Sources: Celtic, Stoke City and Watford plotting to sign Man City star Anderson
Celtic, Stoke City and Watford are plotting offers for Man City youngster Freddie Anderson, sources have told Football Insider.
The centre-back, 16, is set to leave the Premier League champions this summer.
His imminent availability has alerted a number of clubs with Scottish giants Celtic and English Championship duo Stoke and Watford registering their interest in a potential deal.
Anderson, a centre-back who can also play right-back, has come through the ranks at City and has been a regular in the club’s Under-16s side this season.
The youngster is the son of former England international Viv Anderson who was Sir Alex Ferguson’s first signing at Man United in 1987 and played for the Red Devils until 1991.
Anderson enrolled his son in City’s academy when he was six years old largely as a result of the impressive standard and facilities of the youth setup.
Celtic’s reserve team, also known as Celtic B, play in the Scottish Lowland League and are currently third in the table, two points behind their rivals’ Rangers youth team and six points behind league leaders Spartans FC.
Since 2000-01, 51 players for the Celts’ academy have made it into the first team, with 19 having played in the Champions League.
One in three of the players to come through the academy have gone on to become professional footballers and 41 players have become full internationals.
Current boss Ange Postecoglou hasn’t been afraid to include youngsters in the first team either, B team players Rocco Vata and Bosun Lawall both made their senior debut for the Hoops this season.
In other news, Brighton are plotting to sign Celtic star next season.