'Gets bums off seats' - Alan Hutton raves over int'l attacker at heart of Celtic transfer talks

Alan Hutton has been left raving over the quality shown by Celtic winger Mohamed Elyounoussi this season as the Hoops look to turn his loan move permanent.

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider assistant editor Russell Edge, the former Aston Villa and Scotland defender says that the 25-year-old is the sort of player which fans want to watch with his dribbling skills and cutting edge in attack.

As revealed by Football Insider, the Bhoys have held talks with parent club Southampton over what it would take to sign Elyounoussi on a permanent deal, the Saints slapping down an asking price of £8million-plus.

Hutton says that the Norwegian international has been the standout performer for Celtic this season and that he is proving why the Premier League side bought him in the first place.

Asked who had been the Hoops' standout star, Hutton told Football Insider: "Elyounoussi, I'd probably give it to him because he started off slow, was in and out a little bit, but in the last few months we've really started to see the quality.

"We're starting to see why Southampton bought him for so much money. His ability to get people off their seats, that's ultimately what people want to go to grounds for. He's running at defenders, scoring goals, getting assists. 

"He gets bums off seats so I think I'd have to give it to him at the moment." 

Elyounoussi has been a constant threat up front for Celtic since his move to Glasgow, netting seven goals and contributing six assists in his 12 appearances across all competitions.

He failed to score or chip in with an assist in 19 games for Southampton, despite having proven himself a threat at Swiss side FC Basel.