Celtic are interested in a move for Nice winger Deji Sotona along with Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur, according to the Telegraph.
The report claims that the Irish youngster is ready to quit the club he joined in 2020. This comes with the 19-year-old having yet to make a first-team appearance since his 2020 move from Manchester United.
The Telegraph says that a move to Stamford Bridge fell through in the summer. And it appears that the European Champions are interested in another stab at taking the left-winger, with Celtic also labelled as an interested party.
It’s said in the Sun that Sotona was highly thought of during his Old Trafford days. He was said to have impressed the coaches in Manchester and stunned everyone after beating the likes of Diogo Dalot and Marcus Rashford in a speed test.
However, despite being a promising talent, he never managed a breakthrough with the EPL club. And at 19, the time has come for Sotona to hunt for first-team football after again failing to make the step-up with Nice.
Sotona can play either as a left-winger or a striker. However, he can also fill in at left-back if necessary.
Deji Sotona needs to think long and hard amid Celtic link
It’s hardly a disaster to be a highly thought of 19-year-old without any first-team minutes to your name. Sotona has plenty of time to make his mark in senior football, but in saying that, this next move is absolutely crucial.
Going to the likes of Chelsea or Tottenham Hotspur may look an attractive proposition. But the chances are that the Irishman would just find himself in a similar situation to the one he was in back at Old Trafford.
Let’s be honest, is Sotona going to walk into a London club and overtake Hakim Ziyech, Delli Alli, or Son? Sure he could go there and progress and be given a debut at some stage in the next 2 years. But a player with the raw talent of Sotona shouldn’t be waiting until he’s 21 before he’s making an impact in the senior game.
No guarantees he would get the minutes at Celtic either. Not if Jota roars back into life after his injury. But there would certainly be more opportunities for him if his ability matches up to his reputation.
Of course, Celtic’s name is only fleetingly mentioned in this report by the Telegraph. It remains to be seen if any interest is indeed substantial enough to prompt a move as well as what any potential fee would be.
But if Sotona needs a move, he would be wise to avoid the reportedly interested London parties.
In other news, Bournemouth hero highlights “amazing” Celtic star Kyogo Furuhashi.
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