Leeds United are reportedly lining up a summer swoop for Celtic’s 17-year-old prospect Matthew Anderson, who has been likened to Kieran Tierney.
According to a report from the Yorkshire Evening Post, Premier League outfit Leeds United are plotting a raid on Scottish giants Celtic for the signing of teenage prospect Matthew Anderson.
The 17-year-old Anderson has been part of the Celtic youth setup for a while now after having made the switch from the Blantyre Soccer Academy in Glasgow. A left-back by trade, the teenager signed his first professional contract with the Hoops in January last year and has been likened to another of Hoops’ academy graduate, Kieran Tierney, who now plies his trade for Arsenal.
Held in high regard within the club, the youngster is yet to taste any action with the first-team at Parkhead but has now ended up on the radars of Leeds United, who are eyeing him for their Under-23 side ahead of the 2021/22 season.
Leeds United have had an exciting summer transfer window so far, both at the first-team level as well as with the reserves. And, more recruits are expected to come in through the doors before the transfer window shuts shop.
Another one of our BSA boys signed a professional contract with a top club. Fantastic for the young man. Well done Matthew Anderson. ??@CelticFC @FootballGrf @yfst @HamAdvOfficial @ScotFASouthWest @UniWestScotland @SportnHealthSL @SportDevSteve @sheldy82 pic.twitter.com/rPmL7fR7Yw
— BlantyreS.A. (@BlantyreSA) December 5, 2019
As far as the Under-23 side is concerned, Leeds have already added Amari Miller and Sean McGurk, while highly-rated midfielder Lewis Bate has also arrived from Chelsea. Set to participate in the Premier League 2 Division 1 in the upcoming campaign, the Whites are intent on adding as much talent and quality to their reserve team in order to compete with some of the best developmental squads in the country.
Talks are underway to sign another Celtic youngster, Leo Hjelde, with Anderson also now popping up on the radars of the West Yorkshire-based club. The 17-year-old was part of the Bhoys’ Under-18 setup last season and has represented the Scotland national team at the Under-16 level.
Touted to be a dynamic, attack-minded left-back, much like Kieran Tierney, Anderson, if he signs with Leeds, would be linking up with the Under-23s but could soon be knocking on the first-team doors where he could provide cover to new signing Junior Firpo, who arrived from Barcelona earlier this summer.
