Report: Celtic send out letters to clubs notifying interest in new generation of talent

By John McGinley

December 11, 2022

Celtic have sent out letters to a number of Scottish clubs notifying them they wish to negotiate with rising stars in their academies, The Daily Record has reported.

The outlet believes that James Wilson of Hearts, their academy player of the year and still just 15, leads the list with Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur also keeping tabs on his progress.

Lewis Pirie, who has already been training with Aberdeen’s first-team, is another attracting attention from the Bhoys alongside Everton, Wolves and Brighton.

Motherwell’s Jonjo Webb, Hamilton’s Joshua McDonald and Partick Thistle’s Hayden Borland are all also mentioned as being the subject of Celtic’s interest in securing a new generation of Scottish talent.

Celtic have the ability to write to clubs and state their intentions to speak to the young players. If the talents in turn want to chat with the Bhoys, they can do so. The players can sign professional contracts with clubs when they are 16.

Clearly, if any of these prospects do arrive at the Bhoys it would initially see them involved in the B team, who are competing in the Scottish Lowland Football League.

Darren O’Dea and Stephen McManus are overseeing that operation, with support from Ange Postecoglou above them. The club are of course focused on developing their own talents, but bolstering that with other youngsters from around Scotland is normal and expected.

These won’t be high-profile signings, but if you’re interested in the youth team, they are names worth keeping an eye on. Especially with bigger leagues now looking to Scottish talents as viable candidates to make a push at the elite level.

In other news, Report: Cash-rich bidders line up to weigh Celtic in.