Ex-manager tells Turnbull to snub Premier League move as Celtic sale mooted
Alex McLeish has urged David Turnbull to snub a Premier League switch even if Celtic green light a move this summer.
The former Scotland boss, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, suggested the 21-year-old would not get enough game time to reach his potential in England.
The Scottish Sun claim Aston Villa are preparing a £7million bid for the Parkhead playmaker.
McLeish has insisted the seven-figure valuation is “too cheap” for a player of Turnbull’s quality.
He also insisted the attacking midfielder needs to continue playing regularly and should snub a move that would see him become a squad player.
“Obviously that would be too cheap, certainly,” McLeish told Football Insider assistant editor Russell Edge.
“At 21-years-of-age you would think to go straight into the Premier League and into the first team, he would probably find himself more of a squad player. Therefore, in terms of his career, if you get a chance you grab it, you have to grab it sometimes.
“But to enhance his career a wee bit, another season with Celtic to try and help challenge Rangers in a bigger way next season. That’s another challenge for the kid. He’s in the Scottish team, he’s flourishing.
“Maybe going right now is too soon. If Celtic see the strategy of letting him go and they can get around somebody else in that may be ahead of me in terms of experience, then who knows. Certainly, I don’t believe that they will want to lose that player right now.”
Turnbull has established himself as a first-team mainstay since joining from Motherwell last summer.
He has contributed nine goals and eight assists in 35 appearances so far.
In other news, Celtic have a “Dele Alli situation” on their hands as senior star set to leave.