French heavyweights Lyon have entered the heated race for in-demand Celtic midfielder Olivier Ntcham, according to the Scottish Sun.
The newspaper claims that the new manager of the Ligue 1 side Sylvinho wants to bring the 23-year-old back to his homeland, but Marseille and Porto are also thought to be preparing bids for the player.
The Hoops are expected to demand mega money for a young man who is rated at around £12million and signed a contract extension in December that ties him to the club until 2022.
Lyon are set to watch the Frenchman when he competes at the Under-21s European Championship this summer.
Good move for Celtic?
Would it be such a bad thing for Celtic to sell Ntcham this summer? Am I crazy? Certainly he is a wonderful player who has improved bucketloads since joining the Bhoys from Manchester City a few years ago.
However, Neil Lennon could always do with some cash to spend, and he has plenty of other options in central midfield. Why not cash in on the Frenchman now and reinvest that money in a few different players to supplement his playing squad?
Ntcham is already valued at around £12million, but that number could easily go up given the amount of interest in him. Suddenly, with Lyon, Marseille and Porto all in the hunt, we could be talking nearer to £15million-£20million. Now, you’re telling me you wouldn’t take that for the youngster?
This is Futbol rating: 6/10
Likely to happen?
The Hoops are in a good position, here. Ntcham is tied down to a long contract and they are under no obligation to sell. They can hold out for as big a fee as possible, knowing that if no one comes up with it then they get to keep a hugely talented midfielder. It’s a win-win for the champions.
This is Futbol rating: 5/10