Rocco Vata could leave Scottish Premiership champions Celtic for free in 2024 with Serie A trio Lazio, Torino and Hellas Verona lining up pre-contract deals.
Brendan Rodgers’ side may have rejected a £450,000 offer from Nottingham Forest a couple of days ago, but speculation surrounding one of Celtic’s most exciting youngsters is not going anywhere any time soon.
Rocco Vata, after all, will become a free-agent in less than 12 months’ time.
And that has not gone unnoticed. Sport Italia report that Lazio, Torino and Hellas Verona are all ‘working on’ signing the 18-year-old Irishman on a pre-contract agreement in January, when Vata will be free to open negotiations with other clubs.
Nottingham Forest and Serie A clubs want Rocco Vata
Celtic, then, have a decision to make. Do they accept a new and improved offer from Nottingham Forest, should one arrive today? Or do they instead continue trying to tie Vata down? All the while running the risk of arguably the most talented teenager in Rodgers’ ranks leaving for nothing a few months down the line?
The Glasgow-born attacking midfielder is yet to feature under Rodgers. He did, however, make four Scottish Premiership appearances during Ange Postecoglou’s trophy-laden second season at Parkhead in 2022/23.
“I remember Rocco as a young player when I was here last,” Rodgers told The Independent in June. “He’s developed physically. There are aspects of his game that he needs to work on to make the next jump, but his attitude is good.
“He’s strong, quick, he wants to score goals. There is lots of development he needs, if he’s willing to do that.”
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