CELTIC continue to be linked to talented younger players. This morning respected journalist Stephen Mcgowan at the Scottish Daily Mail is reporting that Celtic are targeting moves for Reading winger Michael Olise and Hearts full-back Aaron Hickey.
The report states that Celtic have have placed teenage winger Michael Olise on a list of potential transfer targets and are keeping tabs on Aaron Hickey’s situation at relegated Hearts.
The French Under 18 International left winger made 14 appearances for Reading this season before the coronavirus stopped play.
Celtic’s Head of Recruitment Nicky Hammond, knows Olise well from his time as Director of Football at Reading. Olise had spells at both the Chelsea and Manchester City Academies before joining Reading, signing a 3 year professional deal last summer.
Meanwhile Aaron Hickey is entering the final year of his contract at Hearts and has already attracted interest from South of the Border. Celtic had Hickey on their books as a youngster and are interested in bringing him back. With Hearts relegated and likely to suffer financial hardship as a consequence cashing in on Hickey this summer rather than letting him walk for free after a season in the Championship is likely to be a priority for Ann Budge.
McGowan reckons that should Hearts fail to get a reconstruction proposal accepted then the previously quoted price of £1.5m for the full-back could be considerably reduced.
Celtic target Reading winger Michael Olise.
https://t.co/JjEw4ISvXF via @MailSport
— stephen.mcgowan (@mcgowan_stephen) May 22, 2020
Speaking about his transfer plans for next season earlier this week the Celtic manager Neil Lennon indicated that his priority would be to try to secure a deal with the two Southampton loanees Fraser Forster and Moi Elyounoussi.
“We don’t know how the transfer window is going to look and what length of time it will be, and what the budget is going to be, and what other clubs’ budget is going to be as well.
“I am really happy with the squad, I am not sure we need to do a lot of rebuilding at all, if at all. But again you don’t know what the landscape is going to look like with bringing players in.”
Jonny Hayes is still waiting to hear of he’ll be given a new deal while Craig Gordon has almost certainly ended his time at Celtic, and what a brilliant performer he has been – strangely under appreciated.
