Celtic could be about to lose one significant rival to their hopes of signing Johnny Kenny from Sligo Rovers.
The teenage striker made a big impression in the 2021 League of Ireland season with a physical style that belies his years, matched by a keen instinct for goal.
Sligo got the striker onto a new contract in November but it is believed to include a clause allowing him to leave if a fee in the region of £150,000 is put on the table.
Kenny was reported to be in Edinburgh for signing talks last month but Hibs are now being very strongly linked with Elias Hoff Meikerson of Bodo Glimt who has a very similar profile.
On December 15 Edinburgh News led with the headline: Hibs are hopeful of convincing highly-rated Sligo Rovers striker Johnny Kenny that his future lies in Edinburgh – but the Easter Road side face competition from Premier Sports Cup opponents Celtic.
The 18-year-old watched the Capital club’s 1-0 victory over Dundee on Tuesday night from the director’s box as interest in the youngster gathers pace ahead of the January transfer window.
A number of English clubs have been monitoring Kenny’s situation but the teenager is understood to have been given a tour of Hibs’ East Mains training facility before taking in the Scottish Premiership win against the Dark Blues, with club chiefs keen to secure his services.
Three weeks on Hibs seem no closer to signing Kenny with 19-year-old Melkersen from Bodo Glimt appearing to be very close to joining the Edinburgh side.
The Sun reports:
HIBS are poised to complete the transfer of Elias Hoff Melkersen from Celtic’s Europa Conference League rivals Bodo/Glimt. The Hoops are scheduled to face the Norwegian champions in the knockout phase of the new Uefa competition this February but they will have to do without Norwegian youth international Melkersen.
Norwegian outlet TV2 reports that Melkersen is on his way to Hibs, with the transfer fee pegged at around £350,000. The young striker scored 17 goals in the Obosligaen for Ranheim in 2020, on loan from Bodø / Glimt. He also has two goals in just three games for the Norwegian U20 national team.
Hibs could of course sign both players but having had Kenny in the training complex three weeks ago it looks like attention has switched to Meikersen.
Kenny certainly has an impressive profile but where he would fit in at Celtic is likely to be the dilemma for the young striker. Osaze Urhighide and Liam Shaw have had very limited game time since moving from Sheffield Wednesday while Luca Connell, Jonathan Afolabi and Lee O’Connor are all out on loan with diminishing prospects of breaking through at Celtic.
Ange Postecoglou may be changing the environment inside Celtic to attract younger talent with a definite route to the first team, for now it looks like Celtic are the strongest option in Scotland showing interest in Kenny.
CLICK HERE for Kenny’s Transfermarkt profile.