Sources: Leeds United and Aston Villa plotting to sign Celtic sensation Borland
Leeds United and Aston Villa are plotting moves to sign Celtic teenage sensation Aidan Borland, sources have told Football Insider.
The midfield wonderkid, 15, is regarded as one of the best young prospects to emerge from Celtic’s academy in recent years and his potential has brought him onto the radar of a number of English clubs.
Leeds and Villa are admirers of Borland and have made regular checks on him while in action for both club and country.
Borland, who will be a scholar next season, is captain of Scotland’s Under-16s, who are currently out in Cyprus for a tournament.
He is already racking up some crucial international experience with five caps under his belt, with his Scotland debut coming back in September during a 0-0 draw to Denmark Under-16s.
Despite being just 15 years old, Borland has already been plying his trade with the Celtic Under-18s after catching the eye of youth coaches in Glasgow.
Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou has spoken this season about his desire to form a “conveyor belt” of talent between Celtic’s youth squad and the first team, with the 57-year-old helping to reshape the club’s academy with new coaches.
But Celtic could lose one of their most prized possessions in Borland with both Leeds and Villa plotting moves to bring him south of the border.
Unai Emery attempted to bolster his Villa midfield in January with moves for Matteo Guendouzi and Houssem Aouar, but it seems the Spaniard is also keeping a keen eye on young talent to improve his side.
Leeds have strengthened their academy ranks in recent seasons with signings such as Sam Greenwood, Darko Gyabi, Mateo Joseph and Sonny Perkins, and Borland could be the latest recruit to join the Yorkshire side’s impressive youth system.
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