Celtic are reported to be showing interest in signing Xavier Mbuyamba.
The 21-year-old has already had spells at Barcelona and Chelsea but after an impressive season at Volendam the central defender is starting to attract attention.
Over the course of four transfer windows Ange Postecoglou has signed Cameron Carter-Vickers, Carl Starfelt and Yuki Kobayashi but Saturday’s defeat at Ibrox highlighted the dependence on Carter-Vickers to hold things together.
Postecoglou has tended to sign older, more experienced players to go straight into the side but as he prepares for his third term with two SPFL titles in the bag there could be scope to bring in a younger emerging defender.
At 1.29 today Sky Sports reported:
Celtic and Watford are among the clubs looking into signing Netherlands youth centre-back Xavier Mbuyamba, who was released by Chelsea’s academy just last year.
The 21-year-old has widely been compared to Virgil van Dijk by coaches and media in Holland due to his similar playing style and huge potential, and he has shone for FC Volendam in the Eredivisie this season.
Ajax and AZ Alkmaar are therefore also interested in signing the Dutch youth international, who has represented his county at U19 level and is expected to feature soon for the U21s.
Chelsea signed him in 2020 after he left Barcelona’s La Masia academy amid the pandemic – and he joined FC Volendam last summer in search of his first chance at regular first-team football, signing a three-year deal.
He has played every game this season except for one due to suspension, scoring five goals, and many top clubs have continued to track him due to his Barcelona and Chelsea pedigree, including Scottish Champions Celtic and Championship side Watford.
Mbuyamba was linked with Celtic in August 2019 but opted for Barcelona, now a few years down the line a move to Scotland could appeal at a critical stage in his development.
In the summer of 2019 Celtic spent £7m on Chris Jullien who mainly played alongside Kris Ajer which could have put the young Dutch defender off a move to Scotland.
Postecoglou has previously indicated a desire to bring in signings early in the summer window, giving them a full pre-season to adjust rather than the previous Peter Lawwell inspired model of seeing what bargains are available in the last few days of the transfer window, often coming in on loan.
Late in August 2019 Celtic signed Fraser Forster, Moritz Bauer and Moi Elyounoussi, after they had been knocked out of the Champions League by Cluj.
CLICK HERE for Mbuyamba’s Transfermarkt profile.
Just think should sevco win the first game against us next season that will give them the bragging rights over us for the rest of that season,well that’s how their fans will see it and the media.
I walked in my local pub after the Glasgow derby and the usual suspects had smiles on their faces “for a change” . I was p”&+(d off but not upset and said. Ok you won 1 out of six we are 1 away from three . Are you still happy THAT WIPED THE SMILE OFF THEIR COUPONS ha ha ha ??
CELTIC are going backwards and the “the rangers” are on the up that’s a bit strange: 3years ago CELTIC won nothing the “the rangers won a double 2years ago CELTIC won a double and the “the rangers” won a single This year CELTIC could win a TREBLE and the “the rangers” won nothing. Only here in Scotland can that logic add up.
I don’t mind fans making stuff up. But when the SMSM and pundits and ex-professionals do it .it’s embarrassing