Celtic are currently in a race (Daily Record) with Manchester City to sign Ecuador’s midfielder Jose Cifuentes. Not too long ago, Lennon admitted that the 20-year-old is on his radar and the Hoops are looking to pull off a deal for him. The boss had said, ”It’s a player who we know very little about but one that has come up on the radar so that’s all I can say on that one.”
Cifuentes talks about Celtic interest
Now even Cifuentes has opened up about the Celtic rumours. The midfielder recently said (Football Scotland), ” I think that it’s a rumour, and as for any contact my agent is handling that. I understand that there is interest but nothing concrete. I want to have the opportunity to leave for Europe. Celtic is a big club with everything that they play for. I had heard of the club before.”
With Premier League giants Manchester City in the race as well, one might feel that the Hoops would miss out on him. However, reports had earlier emerged that Celtic were edging ahead of City as they can offer the youngster more regular game time.
Why are Celtic going after a midfielder?
The Hoops have been on the lookout for a midfielder as their approach for David Turnbull failed earlier. Olivier Ntcham’s future is up in the air at the moment, and we think that Celtic are definitely right in looking for a midfielder. The likes of Eboue Kouassi and Nir Bitton haven’t been able to prove themselves in midfield, and a new dynamic midfielder is necessary for the club.
Where can Cifuentes fit in?
The 20-year-old is predominantly a central midfielder, but he can thrive in a box to box role as well. Scott Brown is already 34, and the club should be on the lookout for a more long term option for him. The fact that the Ecuador youngster is versatile and is a well-rounded midfielder means that Lennon can use him in different roles.
What can the midfielder bring to the table?
Cifuentes jumped into the limelight after he helped Ecuador finish third in the u-20 World Cup. His impressive strength and on the ball qualities make him a standout option. The fact that Premier League champions like City are interested in him is a testament to his talent.
The midfielder currently plies his trade for CD América de Quito in Ecuador’s top division. He can score some long-range goals as well, and as mentioned, Cifuentes is a well-rounded midfielder who has offensive and defensive qualities. Celtic should look to seal the deal for him.
