'Massive' - Exclusive: Bent reacts as Celtic move to beat Everton to young striker signing

Darren Bent claims that Celtic have got a serious chance of luring Stoke City youngster Mo Sankoh to Parkhead when his youth contract expires.

The former England striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider assistant editor Russell Edge, insists that the Glasgow giants have a lot to offer the promising centre-forward should he move north of the border.

As revealed by Football Insider, the Bhoys have made a move to sign the 16-year-old from the Potters for a compensation fee of no more than £300,000.

Sankoh's youth contract expires this summer and he will be forced to wait until he turns 17 in October before he can pen a professional deal in England.

This site has previously revealed how Premier League sides Everton and Chelsea are also battling it out for the Potters' starlet.

Bent believes that Celtic have proven there is a pathway for youngsters into the first team and that the lure of regular European football at a "massive" club could be too hard to turn down.

Bent told Football Insider: "You're potentially talking about going to one of the biggest clubs in the world in Celtic, massive fanbase all over the world and potentially Champions League football.

"That is a massive, massive carrot - you're not going to a middle of the road club, you're going to a massive, established club who plays in the Champions League most seasons.

"If you can get that, why would you not go there? You look at what it's done for people like Moussa Dembele and others, these guys are being courted by some of the biggest teams around the world.

"People look at Scotland and think 'Nah, not for me' but when you talk about Celtic and Rangers, you're talking about a different kettle of fish." 

Celtic have had great success in taking youngsters from England and turning them into first-team talents, with Moussa Dembele the biggest success of recent years.

Jeremie Frimpong has continued the trend this season with the 18-year-old establishing himself as a senior star less than a year after signing from Manchester City.

In other Celtic news, it can be REVEALED that the club have agreed a jawdropping £30m-plus commercial deal to put Rangers in the shade.