Celtic set to seal three-year deal for top Aussie teenager
Celtic are set to complete the signing of talented Australian teenager Stefan Nikolic.
According to reports Down Under, the 16-year-old will sign a three-year deal to make the move to Parkhead from Western Sydney Wanderers.
Nikolic comes from footballing stock – his father, Roman, played for Red Star Belgrade when they beat Marseille in the European Cup final in 1991 – and is said to have “terrific potential”.
Although he has not played for the first team, he has impressed hugely with the Wanderers’ youth side, putting together a fine goalsto-game ratio.
The A-league club’s academy chief Ian Crook said: “He has terrific potential and is an “out-and-out goalscorer”.
Nikolic, who shares the same management company as current Celtic midfielder Tom Rogic, has spent two trial spells at Parkhead and will make the move following the end of travel restrictions due to
Covid-19. The deal will see a compensation fee involved.
Celtic have been adept at recruiting talented teenagers to strengthen their academy teams with a view to pushing into the first-team.
Full-back Jeremie Frimpong has shown players the pathway available at the club.
Celtic’s new head of recruitment Gary Penrice is currently assessing 240 players as the club look to make improvements in the summer transfer window.
He told Bristol Live: “It’s actually been busy, manic, catching up with all stuff, and tapping into a huge global market. Celtic’s market is absolutely huge. It’s global. I am currently watching 240 players.”