Luca Connell responds to claims Celtic will wait weeks to sign him

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Celtic are reportedly hoping to sign midfielder Luca Connell.

Bolton Wanderers midfielder Luca Connell has told The Irish Independent that he thinks Celtic as a ‘massive club’ and he would be honoured to sign for them.

Connell, 17, has come up through the Bolton youth ranks, and in a dismal season both on and off the pitch for the Trotters, the midfielder emerged as one rare positive.

The teenager impressed with his tenacious displays in midfield and his reading of the game for such a young age, so it’s no great shock that many teams want to sign him.

The Daily Mail noted last month that Rangers, Norwich City, Preston North End and Southampton all want Connell, with The Sun claiming that Everton, Tottenham Hotspur and Wolverhampton Wanderers are in the race too.

However, the most interested club appears to be Celtic, with boss Neil Lennon looking to raid former club Bolton in a deal that would cost just £240,000 according to the Daily Mail.

The Express reported earlier this week that Celtic are hoping to sign Connell when he returns from international duty, which means they would be willing to wait an entire month to get a deal done.

Connell is in a 30-man training squad for the Republic of Ireland Under-19’s, and if selected for the squad, may be away with his country until the end of July, depending on how far they advance in the tournament. Either way, it would be weeks until Connell would be signed.

Connell has now admitted that it would be an honour to play for such a massive club, and whilst he’s keeping his options open, he’s intrigued to see how many interested clubs are willing to stick by him and wait until his international commitments are over.

“Everyone knows Celtic are a massive club,” said Connell. “It’d be an honour to represent them if that’s what the final decision is. I’m keeping my options open and hopefully I can take the right one in the next few weeks.

“I just want to make sure I’m playing, wherever I go. I’ve read in the media that lots of big clubs are interested but I think at this age it’s important to be playing. Then hopefully the money will come with that. It has been a busy summer. I’ve had quite a few clubs interested but they come and go by the day. Let’s see which ones stick by me,” he added.