'Interest from Arsenal and Celtic': Agent says his 6ft 4in star is a wanted man, he's similar to Virgil van Dijk

By Shamanth Jayaram

Arsenal and Celtic have expressed informal interest in signing KAA Gent defender Joseph Okumu this summer, but it’s Borussia Dortmund who’ve made a concrete approach.

That’s according to the Kenya international’s agents, who revealed that the Gunners and the Hoops have both taken note of the 25-year-old’s performances in the Belgian top-flight this season.

Arsenal currently have Ben White, Gabriel Magalhaes and Rob Holding at the back. William Saliba is expected to come back and play a part, but it seems like they’re still looking to bring in another central defender before the start of the next campaign.

Celtic, on the other hand, are set to sign Cameron Carter-Vickers from Tottenham on a permanent deal, but if Okumu’s agents are to be believed, they too are interested in another centre-half.

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Agent: There’s informal interest from Arsenal and Celtic in Joseph Okumu

Okumu, who only joined Gent last summer, has made a fantastic name for himself already. His value has gone up, and it looks like he’s set for a big move this summer.

His agent told People Daily Kenya: “We have had informal interests from English side Arsenal and Scottish giants Celtic.

“But, German side Borussia Dortmund is the first side to make an official inquiry about the central defender who is open to a move if a proper agreement is reached.”

Okumu still has a little over three years left on his contract at Gent.

Similar to Virgil van Dijk

Before joining Gent in the summer of 2021, Okumu spent a couple of years in Sweden at Elfsborg. The centre-half played with the club’s skipper Johan Larsson, who compared the Kenyan to Virgil van Dijk – if you haven’t heard of him, he’s this tall defender who once played for Celtic.

Larsson told Fotbollskanalen 13 months ago: “It is difficult to compare but he has similar qualities (to van Dijk), and we try to use his qualities as far as possible. 

“He does it very well. So, it is not a stupid parable, but it is also a tough parable to live up to.”

Van Dijk is the best central defender in the world today, and if 6ft 4in Okumu is even half as good as that, he would be a fine signing for Celtic.

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