The 19-year-old is reportedly on the verge of a summer move to Celtic; but nothing is signed yet.
Brendan Rodgers rocked up at Parkhead this summer with a project on his mind. He wanted to ensure that Celtic were no longer merely making up the numbers in the Champions League every couple of seasons.
The Sun report that the Northern Irish soundbite-master wanted to make Celtic a regular presence in the last 16, deserving their place among the 32 best club sides in the European game.
Such claims will no doubt have captured the attention of wantaway teenager Henry Onyekuru. The 19-year-old Nigerian, a prolific scorer in the Belgian league this season, will reportedly turn down interest from Russian giants CSKA Moscow to complete a protracted move to Parkhead in the summer, the Daily Record reported this month.
However, RB Leipzig, the nouveau-riche Bundesliga breakthrough act, are unlikely to take that lying down. ESPN reported in January that they will challenge Celtic for Onyekuru’s sought-after signature and, in truth, their project is even more enticing.
The energy-drink fuelled Northerners have not risen from the second tier to second place in the top flight by signing marquee mercenaries. Instead, their rise has been enabled by a clan of Europe’s finest young talent.
Creative king Emil Forsberg was plucked from the Swedish league, box-to-box dynamo Naby Keita from Austria, captain Willi Orban from second division Kaiserslautern and top scorer Timo Werner from relegated Stuttgart. Their record signing is Oliver Burke, the exciting Scottish winger reared by Nottingham Forest.
Therefore, Onyekuru would fit right in. And Leipzig, unlike Celtic, have no need to sell their stars to finance progression. They are almost guaranteed a place at Europe’s top table for years to come.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
