Celtic move in for City starlet

CELTIC are on the trail of Manchester City’s young midfielder Olivier Ntcham. The 21-year-old Frenchman — capped at various youth levels up to Under-21 — has spent the last two seasons on loan with Genoa. But the Italian club have not taken up an option to buy, alerting Celtic to the availability of a player noted

for his powerful running and shooting. Torino are also thought to be keen to take the youngster back to Serie A. Brendan Rodgers wants to make a fresh addition to his midfield armoury and had been linked with a move for Chelsea prospect Charly Musonda. However, Ntcham (right) is now thought to head the list of options, with Rodgers admitting yesterday he hoped to make progress on an unnamed target over the weekend. Completion of a deal would also extend the transfer links between City and Celtic in recent seasons. They have taken Jason Denayer, John Guidetti and Patrick Roberts on loan from the Etihad — and spent around £1.5million on centre-back Dedryck Boyata, who is now facing up to three months out because of kneeligament damage. Meanwhile, Rodgers hopes Celtic can again fly the flag in this season’s Champions League after another dispiriting week for Scottish football. Rangers and St Johnstone crashed out of the first qualifying round of the Europa League to inflict further damage on an already battered co-efficient. Celtic must stand apart from that trend as they look to at least match last season’s achievement of reaching the group stage of the continent’s elite tournament. Celtic face their first qualifier against Linfield in Belfast next Friday. ‘At Celtic, we create our own standards. We’re not reliant on another club or someone else, we have to set our own benchmark,’ insisted Rodgers. ‘But, in the bigger picture, I want Scotland to do well and have teams — not just a team — that can go in and represent. ‘Scotland, over many years, has been a wonderful football nation — one that’s produced many great players and many great managers. ‘It has clearly been a hotbed for football but there is a problem, an issue. ‘So your teams need to progress and be doing well in European football. ‘Of course, you must do well domestically to get the opportunity for Europe. ‘It would be nice for the co-efficient to be at a much higher level. But you have to win.’ Celtic complete their warm-up games for the Champions League qualifiers with a friendly against Shamrock Rovers in Dublin this afternoon.