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Celtic are in the hunt to sign midfielder Rekeem Harper, according to The Daily Mail.
What’s the story?
With just one game left until the Hoops’ season is over, the club will naturally be preparing already for the challenges ahead next year.
There’s lots of work to do to the squad to maintain the success their supporters have enjoyed over the last few years.
As we’ve seen for many transfer windows, part of Celtic’s signing strategy will involve securing young talent that can develop and improve while in Glasgow.
Step forward Rekeem Harper, who made the breakthrough at West Bromwich Albion this season and now looks set to try and further himself elsewhere.
The Mail report his contract is up this summer and that the Hoops are very interested in signing him, with discussions having progressed to the stage of inviting him to Sunday’s match against Hearts and giving him a VIP tour of the facilities.
The paper reckon clubs like Tottenham Hotspur are also keen on his services, so this is far from a done deal, but the fact he is being linked with elite Premier League sides is a good sign he has high ability.
Where would he fit into Celtic?
Still just 19-years-of-age, Harper is far from the finished article but has shown good progress at the Baggies recently, making 23 appearances for their first-team this term.
A central midfielder, he would arrive at Celtic Park immediately competing for places in a midfield already well stocked with talent like Callum McGregor, Ryan Christie, Scott Brown, Olivier Ntcham, Nir Bitton and Tom Rogic.
With Ewan Henderson also showing promise the addition of Harper might raise some eyebrows, but if there’s an excellent talent available on a free transfer then it’s sensible to make a move.
Is there room for him?
The player that would suffer most from his presence at Celtic would likely be Eboue Kouassi, who has failed to live up to the hype of his arrival in January 2017 when Brendan Rodgers talked excitedly about how good he is.
The Ivorian has missed much of this season with a knee injury but had he been fit his chances would have likely been limited anyway.
If Celtic are looking at other young midfielders like Harper then it doesn’t bode well for the 21-year-old, with reports last summer from outlets such as The Daily Record believing he was already surplus to requirements.
Can Harper prove to be a more effective prospect in the Hoops first-team?