Celtic are set to secure a transfer deal with Chelsea for a highly-rated talent.
Celtic have reportedly agreed a deal with Chelsea for one of their young talents - and only a knock is delaying an announcement.
Left-back Landon Emenalo visited Lennoxtown earlier this month to scope out a move to the Premiership champions who have one foot in the league phase of the Champions League after a 3-0 first leg win in their play-off with LASK. Cover for Kieran Tierney is needed after a pursuit of Marcelo Saracchi collapsed and the Chelsea player is the man manager Martin O’Neill has seemingly selected.
New Stamford Bridge boss Xabi Alonso rates Emenalo highly, as does Enzo Maresca, who recently left the head coach position in London and is now Manchester City manager. Mauricio Pochettino also liked the left-back, and once his injury problem is passed by, then he will announced as a Celtic signing according to CeltsAreHere.
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When will Celtic sign player from Chelsea?
It’s claimed by the publisher: “CeltsAreHere understands Landon Emenalo suffered a knock in training with Chelsea and, once that issue is resolved, he will join Celtic on loan with no option to buy. The decision to have no purchase option is down to how highly Chelsea and Xabi Alonso rate the youngster.
“The knock is not thought to be serious, with the expectation that he will be back available in the short term. Celtic are therefore not concerned that the issue will derail the loan move. A loan move to Celtic is agreed, with an announcement expected shortly after Celtic’s Champions League qualification is potentially sealed if the Hoops get past LASK on Tuesday night in the second leg in Austria, holding a 3-0 aggregate lead.
“Celtic supporters may look at Emenalo and have concerns over the 18-year-old’s lack of consistent first-team game time, but Chelsea view him as a major talent who is destined to start for the Blues one day, and that should excite Hoops fans. The England Under-18 international has impressed Chelsea coaches in recent years, including Mauricio Pochettino when he was 15 and, more recently, Enzo Maresca, with the now Man City boss a huge admirer of Emenalo.
Chelsea head coach Xabi Alonso.placeholder image
Chelsea head coach Xabi Alonso. | Getty Images
Who else could Celtic have signed at left-back?
“The loan signing of Emenalo is viewed as a real coup behind the scenes, and the player himself is set to provide brilliant competition for Kieran Tierney, with the Scotland international’s minutes consistently managed.”
Emenalo’s arrival will take some of the burden off Tierney and end the club’s search in the left-back department. Former star Greg Taylor had been mentioned as one possible option for Celtic after criticisms of their failure to re-sign Saracchi, who eventually joined Houston Dynamo from Boca Juniors, despite appearing keen on a permanent Hoops move following his loan. Liam Scales has filled in at left-back when needed so far this term.
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