Report: Celtic want Lille youngster Fadiga Ouattara

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Get French Football News have claimed that Celtic are interested in luring Lille teenager Fadiga Ouattara to Parkhead this summer, as the striker’s contract looks set to expire at the end of the 2020-21 campaign.

Ouattara, 18, is one of the most highly-rated players coming through Lille’s academy at the moment after shining for the French side in the UEFA Youth League. Indeed, Ouattara has scored four goals in six outings – even netting against Chelsea.

Despite such form, Lille are yet to tie down the striker who is showing enormous promise despite his age. His contract, if Transfermarkt is to be believed, ends in little over 12 months and that means a cut-price figure could be arranged.

Celtic – who reportedly agreed a move for 16-year-old Stefan Nikolic this week – will not be alone in their pursuit of Ouattara. Indeed, RB Leipzig and Valencia are also keen, with Ouattara netting two of his four goals against Valencia in November.

TBR’s view – Can Ouattara follow the likes of Dembele and Edouard?

The differences between Edouard and Dembele, and Ouattara, is that the latter will be brought to Celtic at a much younger age – and still in the developmental stage of his career. Dembele was signed having starred for Fulham’s senior team.

Edouard, meanwhile, was on the fringes at PSG. Though Ouattara has made the bench once this season, he still has a fair way to go before looking at the finished product. At Celtic, though, he may get that chance.

More chance of first-team football may polish the diamond, and give Celtic a huge talent for a cheap price.