Exclusive: Celtic ready to blow Chelsea away to sign forward for bargain fee

Exclusive: Celtic ready to blow Chelsea away to sign forward for bargain fee

Wayne Veysey

Founder & Managing Director AUTHORITY Former chief correspondent at Evening Standard, Goal and Press Association with nearly three decades in national, regional and digital news and sports journalism. Wayne directs the network’s news strategy and high-level operations. FOCUS Editorial direction for the 11-site network and newsroom management. THE BRIEF Wayne oversees the network’s editorial standards across the network. He provides the final sign-off on all headline scoops, ensuring content across all platforms meets the standards required for a high-velocity newsroom.

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EXCLUSIVE By Pete O'Rourke

Celtic are aiming to blow Chelsea away as they work on signing highly rated Bolton Wanderers forward Ronan Darcy, Football Insider understands.

Chelsea have made enquiries about Darcy after he caught the eye of their scouts, but an impending transfer ban means they are unable to sign players in the next two transfer windows.

A Celtic source has told Football Insider the club have been monitoring Darcy's situation and they are ready to take advantage of the Premier League giant's transfer ban by signing the 18-year-old for a nominal compensation fee.

Cross-border rules means Scottish clubs are able to sign players from England for a fraction of the amount clubs south of the border need to pay in compensation.

A number of other Premier League clubs have been keeping tabs on Darcy following his impressive performances for Bolton's Under-18s in the FA Youth Cup this season.

Darcy, who is regarded as one of the best young talents to emerge at Bolton in recent years, was rewarded for his rapid progress this season by making his first-team debut in the final game of the Championship campaign against Nottingham Forest.

Bolton now face a fight to keep hold of exciting starlet Darcy with clubs ready to capitalise on the club's financial problems by luring him away from the Lancashire club for a bargain fee.

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