Michael Frame is the latest Celtic teenager attracting the transfer attention of EPL clubs.
Ben Doak is the most high profile prospect to have left Celtic in recent times, at the age of 16 with two first team appearances to his name the winger opted to join Liverpool where he has continued to progress with a handful of appearances off the bench for Jurgen Klopp’s side.
Frame still has two years left to run on his Celtic contract but with the Daily Record running a story about interest from Newcastle the player and his agent are in a strong bargaining position.
At 11.10 this morning the Record‘s live transfer blog reported:
Newcastle United are watching Celtic youngster Mitchel Frame very closely.
The Premier League giants are looking to add to their development squad and Frame is right on their radar. The teenager came to the Magpies’ attention after impressing for Scotland under-17s at the recent European Championships. Premier League rivals Crystal Palace and Brighton are already on the case.
Frame still has two years left on his Celtic deal and it would take a hefty fee for the Scottish champions to even consider selling.
Celtic see the full-back as one for the future and he is expected to get regular exposure in the B team in the Lowland League in the upcoming season.
He was a standout and scored for Celtic in the recent under-18 Scottish Youth Cup final over Rangers. Frame scored in the cup triumph, which was watched by Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou.
The issue for Newcastle is that money is never going to be an issue for the Saudi-backed North-east giants, although they have to follow Financial Fair Play rules closely. Eddie Howe’s side are prepared to spend big but are looking at players with potential and a future sell-on value.
Players in Frame’s position face a difficult time with the only realistic option from Celtic being to in the Lowland League which is mainly played on plastic pitches against clubs like Caledonian Braves, Edinburgh University and Gala Fairydean Rovers.
In the season just finished Newcastle’s u-21 side played in a league that involved matches against the u-21 or u-23 teams from Leeds, Derby, Southampton and Aston Villa.
Must keep him