According to The Sun on Sunday (20/6, p65), Celtic are interested in signing Oxford United defender Rob Atkinson this summer.
Bristol City are thought to be very keen on signing Atkinson, and are willing to pay the £1.6million asking price on his head.
However, Celtic are pursuing his signature too, with Oxford now looking unlikely to keep the centre back heading into next season.
Who is Rob Atkinson?
Atkinson was and the books at Cannes before heading back to England with Basingstoke Town, where Fulham plucked him from in 2017.
The 6ft 4in defender dropped back into non-league with Eastleigh in 2019, but was signed by Oxford United just months later, capping off a nomadic few years.
Now 22, Atkinson is one of League One’s top young centre backs and appears to have a huge future ahead of him.
Does Atkinson make sense for Celtic?
In February, Celtic pursued a deal for Ben Davies, but lost out on the Preston man as Liverpool swooped in. The £1.6million fee is even the same price Davies went for earlier this year.
Atkinson is another left-footed EFL defender with major potential, though the Oxford man is taller and more powerful than the elegant Davies.
If Celtic want a left-footer, Atkinson could be their man. The step up in expectation from Oxford to Celtic is huge, but with question marks over Kristoffer Ajer, Celtic need to find young defensive talent for the future – and Atkinson ticks the boxes.
Celtic will just have to hope they don’t miss out on this one.
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