According to a recent report by the Scottish Sun, Premiership giants Celtic are being linked with a potential summer move to acquire the services of Cherno More’s Bulgarian international forward Martin Minchev. The report suggests that the 19-year-old is rated quite highly in his home country and that the Hoops had been watching him over recent months. It has also been clarified in the report that the forward is valued in the region of £1.5m by his club.
With Celtic interested in Martin Minchev, it’s perhaps not surprising that More are trying to keep him at the club. Despite this, the likes of Serie A outfit Torino and Belgian side Anderlecht are claimed to be keen on signing the 19-year-old this summer too. It has finally been suggested that Bulgarian side CSKA Sofia have also begun their attempt to acquire Minchev and keep him in the country.
Why Are Celtic Interested In Martin Minchev?
For starters, the Cherno More man is only 19-years-old, and undoubtedly has the best part of his career ahead of him. What this means in that upon attaining his signature, Neil Lennon would have the opportunity to mould the youngster into the exact kind of striker that he wants.
Until Odsonne Edouard started producing the goods for the Celts, the centre-forward’s position was one of real concern, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see the gaffer planning ahead by adding a new striker to the roster.
Minchev has been a member of the Cherno More system for quite a while now. However, it wasn’t until the summer of 2017 that he was drafted into the first-team and began training professionally. The forward, at just 19, has already featured in 74 fixtures across all competitions for the Bulgarian top-flight side. Although his overall record of ten goals and eight assists might look average on paper, the amount of potential he’s showcased over the years is quite impressive.
This season, Minchev has managed an above average return of six goals from 21 league appearances – a period during which he started most fixtures. Also, the youngster was given his national team debut by Bulgaria back in the middle of 2019, after which the Cherno More man has gone on to pick up three international caps (Transfermarkt).
Would Martin Minchev Fit In At Celtic Park?
The 19-year-old isn’t quite like the quintessential modern-day striker and is comparatively rather diminutive in stature. Standing at less than 1.8m tall, the Bulgarian doesn’t offer the biggest physical presence in the opposition box either.
What he does provide though, is an almost incomparable predatory instinct in the box, which he uses to put away even the most difficult of chances. Irrespective of whether Edouard carries on at Parkhead or not, signing a prodigious forward as Minchev would surely be a step in the right direction for a team with aspirations as big as Celtic.
