Jose Cifuentes comments on Celtic speculation

By Hamish Carton

July 22, 2019

Reported Celtic target Jose Cifuentes has broken the silence on the speculation linking him with a move to Glasgow.

The Hoops are clearly interested in the midfielder after Neil Lennon’s recent comments. The Northern Irishman told BBC Sportsound (Wednesday 17th July) that there were some legs to the story.

“I can’t confirm there is an interest”, Lennon said.

“Again, it’s a player who we know very little about but one that has come up on the radar so that’s all I can say on that one.”

(Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)

And now Cifuentes has responded to Lennon’s comments and reiterated that he would like to move to Europe.

The 20-year-old told Football Scotland: “That is very important and something that fills me with pride. But we need to see what happens.

“I want to have the opportunity to leave for Europe. Celtic is a big club with everything that they play for. I had heard of the club before (the interest started).”

(Photo by TF-Images/Getty Images)

Is Cifuentes heading for Celtic?

The Cifuentes chatter has been one of the more surprising aspects of this summer’s transfer window. Very little is known about the midfielder other than that he seems a pretty good prospect.

It’s quite unusual for Celtic to sign youth players from far-flung countries like Ecuador but Lennon’s comments clearly show that the interest is genuine.

(ALIK KEPLICZ/AFP/Getty Images)

There’s an argument that we don’t really need any other central-midfielders right now. Although a counter argument is that it would be foolish to turn down a player of Cifuentes’ calibre just because we’re pretty well sorted.

It will be interesting to see if anything comes of a move for the 20-year-old. And if it does, what kind of role he will have to play at the club.