Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou has raved about Osaze Urhoghide on the club’s official website after signing him ahead of Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds United.
What’s the story?
As Celtic have announced on their official website, they have signed Urhoghide on a four-year contract.
The 20-year-old defender has joined the Hoops after leaving Sheffield Wednesday.
Leeds United’s interest
Celtic were not the only club who were chasing Urhoghide, who can play as a centre-back and as a right-back.
The Star reported last month that Leeds also wanted to sign the youngster.
Club Brugge, Sporting Lisbon, Crystal Palace and Preston North End were also keen on Urhoghide.
What Ange Postecoglou has said
Postecoglou told Celtic’s official website: “It’s great. He’s someone that the club’s been tracking for a while and when I came on board, I managed to have a meeting with him and he’s a good young man, he’s very ambitious.”
The Celtic boss added: “He’s a modern defender. He’s good athletically, he’s mobile, he’s quick and he wants to get on the ball.
“He can play a couple of different positions, and from our perspective, and the way we want to play our football, there are certain things I look for in players irrespective of age, and he’s got some really good attributes to be a top defender.”
Blow for Leeds United
Leeds’s reported interest in Urhoghide suggests that they will be disappointed to have missed out on the 20-year-old.
Postecoglou seems to rate the youngster highly, and his comments underline what Leeds have missed out on.
Leeds have a well-settled defensively lineup, and Urhoghide would have struggled to break into the team.
Celtic endured an awful season in 2020-21, and new manager Postecoglou will make changes to the team, which means that Urhoghide could establish himself as a regular in the starting lineup.
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