Celtic starlet Karamoko Dembele is reportedly at the centre of a transfer tug-of-war between Premier League giants Chelsea and Manchester City.
The 13-year-old is considered a star for the future and Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers is undoubtedly keen to keep hold of him rather than lose him before he’s even had a chance to break into the first team.
However, according to The Independent, he is already coming under intense pressure to persuade the talented teenager that Celtic is the best place for him at this stage of his career and that he should snub the opportunity to move to England.
Both Chelsea and City are said to be keen on snapping him up, and a move to either club would be a huge move for the starlet.
Dembele was a surprise inclusion in an Under-20s game in October, and although he won’t be rushed, it was a statement of intent from Celtic in the sense that they won’t hold him back and will give him opportunities to play that he may not get elsewhere.
Given that he doesn’t even turn 14 until next February, it will be important for Celtic to protect his best interests and not allow him to get carried away with transfer speculation.
Nevertheless, with the report claiming that Pep Guardiola and Antonio Conte are ready to battle it out for his signature, it will be difficult to ignore given the power and appeal of the Premier League.
Meanwhile, it’s also added in the report from the Independent that Dembele is at the centre of another tug-of-war with both England and Scotland both laying claim to him at international level.
There is plenty of hype surrounding the 13-year-old, and there’s a long way to go before he proves that it’s deserved.