Celtic tabled £1.5m bid to sign midfielder from PL giants – report
By Harry Sykes
Celtic failed with a deadline-day bid to sign Manchester City teenager Phil Foden on loan, according to a report.
Football site TeamTalk claim the Scottish giants offered City a loan fee of £1.5million to take the midfielder, 17, for the 2017-18 campaign.
But the deal was rejected as it is said that the Premier League giants have huge plans for the rising star.
City boss Pep Guardiola is a big admirer of the central midfielder, who has been training with the first-team squad for over 12 months, and has named him on the bench for three of the team’s four Premier League fixtures this season.
Foden has been told he will feature at some point this season when the Champions League and League Cup kick in.
Guardiola sees the England Under-17 international as the long-term understudy to playmaker David Silva, who is playing in a deeper role this season.
TeamTalk report that most of the Championship made enquiries for Foden this summer, as well as some Premier League teams, but all were rejected out of hand.
Celtic and City have a good relationship after agreeing a number of loan deals in recent years.
Patrick Roberts secured a second loan stint at Parkhead at the end of last month after his initial, hugely successful 18-month spell ended in June.
In other Celtic transfer news, the club are in advanced talks to sign up an enforcer, with the deal to be done this month.
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