Celtic have taken Manny Perez on trial this month.
Celtic lost 2-0 at Hibernian on Sunday afternoon, with Brendan Rodgers’ side turning in a dismal showing at Easter Road.
The Bhoys were undone by a goal in each half from Vykintas Slivka and Florian Kamberi, meaning Celtic haven’t returned to the top of the Scottish Premiership table.
With a fierce title race developing, and Celtic’s squad looking a little thin, Rodgers will be in the market for additions in January – and Manny Perez is a surprise name to have emerged.
Yes, Celtic need another right back given that Mikael Lustig and Cristian Gamboa are both out of contract at the end of the season, but few would have expected Perez to be a target, or had even heard of him a week ago.
The 19-year-old American is currently in the collegiate system with North Carolina State, and has caps for the United States Under-20’s as he attempts to make a name for himself.
Perez has recently spent time on trial with Celtic in a bid to win a contract, and played in a behind-closed-doors game last week in the hope of convincing Rodgers to sign him.
Now, Perez has taken to Instagram to post a photo of himself in training with Celtic, posing with two Bhoys stars – Gamboa and Emilio Izaguirre – and branding them ‘legends’ of Norht American football, having represented Costa Rica and Honduras respectively.
Perez would no doubt love to play with both players, but it remains to be seen whether the Bhoys hand the teenager a contract in 2019.
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