Celtic and Leeds United want young French talent who was a UEFA Youth League semi-finalist, fee revealed

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Although the transfer window doesn’t officially open until the summer, it seems Celtic are already doing their work to strengthen the squad.

Celtic’s defeat to Rangers in the Glasgow Derby showed a very noticeable lack of squad depth as Callum McGregor, Auston Trusty and Liam Scales dropping out meant Brendan Rodgers had to dip into the B team squad for reinforcements.

The Celtic manager now knows he has a bit of work to do as the lack of like-for-like quality in terms of replacements for first-team regulars was glaringly obvious.

And it seems Rodgers is already looking at the issue as a report says that the Hoops boss is looking at a talented young Frenchman for a possible summer move.

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Celtic and Leeds want young Nantes winger Herba Guirassy

According to French media outlet Le Republicain Sportif, Celtic and Leeds United are both looking to sign young Nantes talent, Herba Guirassy.

Young Guirassy has made 15 appearances for the Ligue 1 outfit and has scored three goals this season.

The 18-year-old left winger was a sensation for Nantes’ youth team with 24 goals in 36 appearances last season.

Guirassy was also the top scorer for Nantes U17 side in 2023 with 28 goals finishing the season and the club’s top goalscorer.

He also reached the semi-final of the UEFA Youth League last season getting knocked out on penalties by Olympiacos.

Making his first-team debut for the Ligue 1 outfit against Toulouse last August, Guirassy is under contract until 2028 but it is thought a bid of around €10m (£8.4m) will be enough to tempt Nantes to sell the promising youngster.

What Celtic-linked Herba Guirassy score clinical first-ever Nantes goal

After his debut against Toulouse, young Guirassy was brought on as an 88th-minute substitute against Auxerre the following week.

With Nantes 1-0 up at the time, the youngster introduced himself to the home fans with this belter of a goal:

Such composure for a youngster, Guirassy is officially Ligue 1 youngest-ever goalscorer after netting at just 17 years and 362 days old.

Clearly highly rated, young Guirassy looks like he has a bright future in the game, and with 17 first-team appearances in total for Nantes, he has shown that he can handle the step up to the senior game.