Celtic linked with summer moves for 2 young English talents

By John McGinley

April 1, 2023

While the main focus of Celtic’s recruitment drive under Ange Postecoglou has been focused on the senior first-team squad, quietly there have also been additions to the club’s youth sides.

Goalkeeper Josh Clarke joined from Glenavon last summer with Justin Osagie also completing a move from the West Ham United academy. The season prior Joey Dawson, Johnny Kenny and Bosun Lawal were all added to the ranks.

If the latest reports are accurate then more youngsters could be on the way to Glasgow. Football Insider believes that Celtic are looking at Burnley teenager Jack McEvilly and Manchester City defensive talent Freddie Anderson as potential recruits this summer.

Celtic B graduates will need replaced

Both are 16 and both are attracting attention from other clubs in both Scotland and England, so it’s far from a guarantee they end up at the Bhoys. Still, it would be no surprise to see Celtic add to the B team ranks as a small group look set to make a first-team step up.

Talents such as Bosun Lawal, Ben Summers and Rocco Vata are all training regularly with the senior side at Lennoxtown now, while others such as Tobi Oluwayemi and Johnny Kenny are gaining senior experience out on loan.

With Celtic ready to put more stock into the B team project with support for a Scottish pyramid restructure, expect the club to continue to be bullish in attracting young talents to the club, as well as developing their own directly from the academy.

English clubs are regularly looking at the Bhoys as a place to find emerging talents on the cheap, so it makes sense that Celtic would look to do exactly the same in the opposite direction when there are opportunities.

This summer may be interesting on that front now that Mark Lawwell has been heading up recruitment for quite a while.

In other news, Video: Young Celtic striker hits the goal trail out on loan.