CELTIC target Luca Connell will be away with Ireland Under 19s for the next few weeks, it has emerged. The teenager looks set to leave Bolton to join up with Neil Lennon at Celtic but it could be a good few weeks yet before he’s going to be available given his international commitments.
It is incredible to think that while Celtic get set to kick off their first pre-season match of the season, midfielder Olivier Ntcham’s season still isn’t over as France progress in the Under 21 tournament in Italy, with the Celtic midfielder being a stand-out in their side. Given he is keen on a move back to France, that a decent shop-window performance from the £15million rated Celtic man.
In an interview with John Fallon in the Irish Examiner, Connell talks about the interest from Celtic who Fallon describes as having “leapfrogged a number of English Premier League in the queue for his services”, confirming The Celtic Star’s story from earlier this week, and re-stated yesterday, that the young defender – who can also play at left back – is Celtic bound.
“Connell will be on the plane with the U19s trekking to Armenia on July 9,” Fallon writes, “the same day Celtic face FK Sarajevo in the first leg of their opening Champions League tie.”
“Everyone knows Celtic are a massive club,” Luca Connell said. “I’m ready to go to the Euros in the next few weeks and I’m pretty certain that I’ll be available. It’s a massive tournament and a good achievement personally if I do get picked.”
On the move, and again the chance for a defender to follow in the foot-steps of the likes of Virgil van Dijk, especially in this instance as Connell is a Irish Scouser, he had this to say: “I just want to make sure I’m playing, wherever I go. I’ve read in the media that lots of big clubs are interested but I think at this age it’s important to be playing. Then hopefully the money will come with that.
“It has been a busy summer. I’ve had quite a few clubs interested but they come and go by the day. Let’s see which ones stick by me.”
Connell was also asked about the story that Robbie Keane has been telling about him which happened when he was introduced to Mick McCarthy’s Irish squad for the recent Euro Qualifiers.
“Robbie Keane asked us to strike the bar with a ball from 30 yards, making sure it rebounded into the goal facing opposite,” Connell said.
“I just thought: ‘Go on, then,’ so I had a go and did it the first time, maybe luckily. Robbie was just like: ‘Pffft, well done.’
“Quality wise, I didn’t feel far off but there was a noticeable difference in the fitness required. I could feel it in the first few days, especially the double sessions before getting up to scratch by the end of the week.”
Celtic are confident that they have won the race to sign Connell but it looks like he’ll not be coming until later next month due to his Irish Under 19s commitments.
We gave you a detailed transfer update last night on The Celtic Star, see HERE.
