A CELTIC academy starlet is reportedly set to follow in the footsteps of one of the national team’s key young players.
Scotland ace Ben Gannon-Doak, currently aged 20, made the switch from Parkhead to Liverpool back in 2022 before moving on loan to Middlesborough and permanently to Bournemouth this season.
Now it seems another teen sensation of Glasgow‘s East End will be heading for Anfield.
The reigning Premier League champions have ‘agreed terms’ with 15-year-old Dara Jikiemi, according to a report from youth football source The Secret Scout.
It was understood previously that the English giants were eyeing the central defender alongside EPL rivals Nottingham Forest.
But it’s now emerged that Jikiemi was recently left out of Scotland youth action against Spain in preparation for the Liverpool move which is getting closer.
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The centre-back – who can also play in a midfield role – has been capped several times for Scotland’s U15s and even worn the captain’s armband.
He was highly rated in the Hoops’ academy setup and tipped to possibly become a breakthrough first team star, but they’re now set to lose out on him.
Due to his age a move south would require a scholarship in England before he could sign a professional contract, and Celtic would receive training compensation for the years spent coming through their system.
With Liverpool recently handing a debut and further successful appearances to 17-year-old Rio Ngumoha, this could be a move which gets Jikiemi exposure at a high level and could see him emulate Gannon-Doak’s rise to becoming a regular in Steve Clarke‘s squad.
But a number of youngsters who have been tempted away from Parkhead early in their careers haven’t had as much success.
B-team key man Daniel Cummings was handed his senior Celtic debut in the Champions League against Aston Villa last season before being snatched up by West Ham.
This season so far he’s managed just 18 minutes for the London club’s under-23s.
Five years ago Liam Morrison and Barry Hepburn made shock moves from the Celts’ youth setup to Bayern Munich.
Morrison now plays for Queen‘s Park Rangers, while Hepburn was loaned to Scottish Championship side Queen’s Park and Austrian minnows DSV Leoben before being left a free agent for over a year and counting.
Rocco Vata however is something of a success story – the 20-year-old has made a huge impact in little over one season at Watford.
Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
