Report: Celtic eyeing 19-year-old with ‘all the qualities’ to succeed, three other clubs keen

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Celtic are reportedly interested in bringing Bulgaria international Martin Minchev to Parkhead this summer but the Hoops face a transfer tussle with three other teams, according to The Scottish Sun.

The Scottish Premiership champions are reported to have watched the 19-year-old, who has netted ten goals in 74 games for Bulgarian top-flight side Cherno More and has already won four caps for his country.

Minchev came through the ranks at the Varna-based club and became their youngest ever first-team player in the Bulgarian league when he came on as a substitute in a 3-2 win over Lokomotiv Plovdiv on 23 April 2017, just one day after his 16th birthday.

The report claims that Celtic are up against Italian club Torino – who had Minchev on trial in June 2017, where he scored a hat-trick in a friendly for the Under-17s – and Belgian side Anderlecht for his signature.

It is also believed that Bulgarian giants CSKA Sofia would like to sign Minchev, but they are likely to be priced out of a deal, with Topsport claiming he’s valued at £1.3million.

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Celtic have been very successful over the years in buying promising young players for very modest sums, helping them grow and prosper, getting several great years’ service out of them and selling them at a massive profit, and Minchev seems to fit the bill.

His reported £1.3million price tag is hardly breaking the bank, and he’s clearly a cut above in his home league, so he certainly has the potential to prosper in Scotland.

A number nine who can also play on the left or the right, Minchev “has all the qualities to become a striker and play great football,” according to Cherno More legend Todor Marev, while Temasport reckons the youngster “will be talked about for a long time to come”.