Celtic are in a two way race to sign Jose Cifuentes.
The midfielder impressed at the recent u-20 World Cup in Poland for Ecuador where he caught the eye of Celtic and Manchester City scouts.
Getting a work permit with Celtic would be easier but Celtic and City have worked closely on a number of players with Patrick Roberts and Daniel Arzani both spending extended loan spells in the SPFL.
The Sun reports Cifuentes saying:
My aim is to play in Europe. I don’t know which club I will sign for yet – either Manchester City or Celtic. Nothing has been decided yet.
I deserve my opportunity to play in Europe, it’s where I have to be. And my mentality is that I am going to be in Europe for a long time. I have spent a lot of time studying and they taught me many things, including English which I now understand better.
To become a great footballer, I must learn languages and not just English. The studying has helped me on and off the pitch because I now believe I make decisions faster.
Even when I do go to Europe, I want to continue studying. I want to have another profession besides football. Since I was little I thought about going into business.
The World Cup in Poland was a dream for me and the team. No one imagined Ecuador would reach the semi-finals and it was a great success.
To wear the shirt of my country was a beautiful experience and it was great to play against the best players in the world of my age group. My next ambition is to be part of the team that plays in the World Cup in Qatar in 2022. I will work very hard for it.
Celtic’s interest in David Turnbull demonstrated that midfield is an area of the park that Neil Lennon is looking to strengthen.
Cifuentes is out of contract in January with his club, CD America looking to cash in on the back of his form at the u-20 World Cup rather than lose the midfielder for nothing in the new year.
While Celtic are linked with the midfielder Lennon was pictured this morning at Edinburgh Airport on route to Stockholm with signing a right-back believed to be his transfer priority.
