Celtic FC have been heavily linked with the signing of Wigan’s 18-year-old centre-forward Joe Gelhardt, as per a report in the Football Insider.
The report claims: “Celtic have been given encouragement in their pursuit of Wigan Athletic striker Joe Gelhardt as his price tag is set to tumble ahead of the formal opening of the summer window.
“A recruitment source has told Football Insider that Gelhardt’s price is expected to fall after Wigan announced they have entered administration. That is a major boost for his suitors, who had previously been told that the wonderkid would cost around £5million.
“Celtic are now lining up an offer to try and lure Gelhardt north of the border for a knockdown fee this summer.”
Joe Gelhardt is under contract at Wigan for one more year but given the mess that the club are in right now, they are more than willing to cash in on the promising young talent. But as things stand, Celtic FC might not be able to get their hands on the forward.
Why Joe Gelhardt is likely to snub Celtic FC?
The latest rumours are suggesting that Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur are keeping tabs on Joe Gelhardt and there’s a big chance they will make a move for him in the coming weeks.
And according to former Spurs midfielder Michael Brown, the lure of the Premier League will be too hard to resist for the youngster.
Brown told Football Insider: “No, we’re talking Spurs in the Premier League. I had the option to go to Rangers, to go play up there or to go to Spurs. I could have joined Rangers but I chose Spurs.
“There’s a giant of a club in Celtic, Rangers and Spurs so ultimately it just comes down to the league that they’re playing in and the opportunities come from there on.
“No one is questioning the size of Rangers or Celtic – it’s unbelievable – but the league of the Premier League is a different draw.”
Even if Spurs do not make a move, Celtic FC will still be on the back foot since clubs like Everton and Leicester City are also in the hunt and there’s no doubt the centre-forward will choose a move to the English top division instead of playing in the Scottish Premiership.
