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Liverpool have emerged as strong contenders to sign a promising Celtic talent
Premier League holders Liverpool have been extremely active in the transfer market when it comes to signing central defenders at academy level - and now they have their sights set on a promising player from Celtic.
The Reds have agreed to sign 17-year-old Austria Wien defender Ifeanyi Ndukwe, who will join up in the summer, and are reportedly on the verge of bringing in 18-year-old Talla Ndiaye from FC Amite in his native Senegal.
Celtic face battle to retain Jikiemi amid strong Liverpool interest
Jikiemi, who captains Scotland at Under-15 level, is regarded as a top talent in Celtic’s youth setup.
The 16-year-old, who is also eligible to represent Nigeria, was reported byMail Sport, last month to be a target for Nottingham Forest although it’s widely thought that Liverpool are the leading contenders for his signature.
It’s far from a straight forward move for the Reds, according to Lynch at this stage. The Liverpool journalist explains the move lays in the balance at the moment due to Celtic’s unhappiness over a proposed compensation package.
Liverpool invested heavily in their first team squad last summer by bringing in around £450m worth of talent, but it seems so far in 2026 their aim is to try and attract as much young talent as possible.
Celtic have a history of losing top talent
67 Hail reports that Jikiemi has missed a number of youth team matches recently after agreeing personal terms with Liverpool, but adds the deal’s not yet done.
Typically, in deals for players as young as this, clubs will negotiate packages which include fees, sell-ons and, most importantly, sell-on clauses.
Celtic are thought to be holding out for what they feel they deserve. However, the situation is another clear indication of the team’s difficulties when it comes to retaining young talent.
Previous examples of players to depart Celtic before really establishing themselves at senior level include Liam Smith, Aidan Borland and Barry Hepburn as well as Ben Gannon-Doak back in 2022, with the latter now playing regularly at Premier League level while also becoming a senior international for Scotland.
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