Report: Newcastle United’s Christian Atsu likely to move to Watford on loan despite Celtic link

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Newcastle United’s Celtic-linked winger Christian Atsu is likely to move to Watford on loan, according to the Northern Echo.

The Echo believes that Watford have held talks with the Magpies regarding the right-winger. They also report that the player himself has been told by manager Steve Bruce that he won’t be in the club’s 25-man squad submitted to the Premier League later this week.

The newspaper state that a move to Championship side Watford is Atsu’s most likely destination. Nottingham Forest are also said to be interested in the player.

Celtic, however, were linked with a potential move for Atsu by Sports World Ghana at the start of September. Since then there have been no further reports of any potential interest.

Atsu hasn’t been in any of Newcastle’s match-day squads in the Premier League this season. The Ghanaian winger has only played once – a short 10-minute appearance at home to Blackburn Rovers in the EFL Cup (Transfermarkt).

Any interest in Atsu appears to have been minimal

The fact Celtic haven’t even been mentioned in the Echo’s latest report is telling. It shows that, as things stand, Celtic are currently nowhere near doing a deal for him.

That’s not to say a right-winger wouldn’t be ideal. With only Jeremie Frimpong fit for the foreseeable future, the Hoops could do with strengthening in that area if the right deal becomes available.

But Atsu has only played twice in the last seven months. You can understand why Celtic may have been hesitant in putting their faith in him, despite the fact he’s played for the likes of Newcastle, Porto, and Everton respectively.

It would’ve been interesting to see how Atsu viewed a move to Celtic. Given the fact he wouldn’t have been an automatic starter if he did sign, it may not have been a move he was keen for in any case.

It’s going to be a frantic day tomorrow, with so may of Celtic’s reported targets sealing their futures one way or another. All we can do as supporters is pray we make the right decisions whilst holding onto our key assets.

When you sum up a deal for Atsu, it looks as though we’ve made a good start in avoiding this one. There are better options out there.

In other news, Celtic invincible Patrick Roberts looks set to wrap up his own future elsewhere.