Report: Celtic interested in Isaac Price but Belgium move with Fergal Harkin beckons

By John McGinley

April 11, 2023

Celtic had an interest in signing Everton prospect Isaac Price on a pre-contract but he is now closing in on a move to Belgian side Standard Liege, The Liverpool Echo has reported.

Price actually played against the Bhoys in December when the two clubs travelled to Australia for a Sydney Super Cup clash. The Toffees youngster impressed his supporters on the day and Frank Lampard described him as one of the best players on the pitch.

The 19-year-old midfielder is said to be keen on testing himself at a senior level, with Celtic keen on his signature alongside a number of English Championship and European clubs.

The Echo reckons he is now on the verge of a switch to Belgium, however, with Fergal Harkin in place as Sporting Director with Standard.

Harkin previously worked with Bhoys recruitment chief Mark Lawwell at the City Group as their Football Partnerships and Pathways Manager – at one stage heavily linked with a switch to Celtic himself.

Celtic are often in the market to bring young talents north of the border from England, previously pursuing moves for Moussa Dembele, Jeremie Frimpong and Matt O’Riley with a decent success rate. The Bhoys would have only had to pay compensation for Price.

Ultimately we’ll never know how keen the Bhoys were on his services, or what guarantees we could have given him in terms of first-team opportunities. The Celtic midfield is already stacked and full of stiff competition.

If Price is looking for regular week-to-week football, Glasgow may not have been a prime destination for him.

The report is a reminder that Lawwell and Ange Postecoglou are constantly on the lookout for new talent and that this summer could be another busy one for the club.

With another round of Champions League cash all but guaranteed, the Celtic Park staff can plan ahead with real confidence to tool up the squad available to the Australian.

In other news, Where Kyogo’s Celtic goalscoring ranks across Europe’s elite after derby double.