The next Ollie Watkins? Exeter City star Joel Randall has been lighting up League Two, and Celtic are reportedly interested.
That’s not news. What has emerged more recently, however, are quotes from Exeter City boss Matt Taylor. Speaking to Devon Live, Taylor said that the club had to operate through developing young talents and selling them on. Ollie Watkins, formerly a star for Exeter, has been the prime example of that model.
Watkins made his England debut last night, scoring against San Marino [Guardian]. The current Aston Villa star was developed by the Exeter academy. A move to Brentford in 2017 saw the Grecians make over £6m from their investment in youth, while a subsequent transfer to Villa has reaped further financial dividends.
Taylor admits that a similar fate could await flying winger Joel Randall. Randall, who has 10 goals in 33 outings this term [Transfermarkt] has interested Celtic along with a host of clubs. Charlton Athletic had a bid turned down in January, with Exeter holding out for 7 figures [Devon Live].
The Exeter boss told Devon Live:
“When it is the players turn to move on and we get the right value in terms of a transfer fee, we generally sell that player.
“We have the next ones on the list to sell and the transfer line to speak, and it will keep on happening if we keep investing in the academy and giving our youngsters the opportunity, and whoever it is next, they will have had an opportunity.
“Some people don’t like it as you are sacrificing success to give opportunity to young players but we are still fighting towards the top of the League Two table when giving players the opportunity, and we might have another Ollie Watkins in our midst at the moment.”
“Next Ollie Watkins”; Celtic could certainly use Joel Randall
Joel Randall is a more than an exciting prospect; he might just be the real deal. At 21, he’s contributing goals and assists regularly from the left-flank. That’s something Celtic desperately need, with Mikey Johnston suffering ongoing fitness issues, while Elyounoussi’s loan expires in the summer.
There’s speculation suggesting the Bhoys could snap up Norway international Elyounoussi permanently. However, in terms of long-term investment, Celtic could benefit massively by signing Randall on a cheaper deal than the Norwegian.
Randall has a touch of Scott Sinclair to his game. His finishing is excellent, but he also provides plenty. In League Two, he averages 1.2 key passes a game, and has 4 league assists this season [WhoScored?]. Given that Exeter City are 8th in England’s fourth-tier, the step up would be massive, but if Randall is anything like Ollie Watkins, that won’t phase him.
Furthermore, it’s likely that Randall’s output would be greater at Celtic. The Bhoys tend to dominate possession in domestic football, and create 17 shots a game on average in the Premiership [WhoScored?]. With Randall left to prowl the touchline, you get the sense he’d have more opportunities to flex his creativity and goal-scoring prowess.
At roughly £1m, there’s likely to be a bidding war for the Englishman. The Salisbury-born attacker is attracting glances from the likes of Swansea City, while Charlton Athletic’s interest is well-established. But surely, the offer of challenging for silverware and European football puts us far above our competitors.
READ MORE: Reliable source claims this Celtic “candidate” is seeking other opportunities.
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