Stoke City emerge as frontrunners to land the services of Celtic's Irish-Nigerian defender 

Championship club Stoke City have been touted as frontrunners to land the services of Celtic's Republic of Ireland U21 international of Nigerian descent Bosun Lawal.

According to Irish Examiner's reporter John Fallon, the Potters are in the driving seat to sign the talented central defender. 

Having spent the entirety of last season on loan at Fleetwood Town, the new report from Ireland has indicated that he is leaving Celtic for good, with Stoke City looking to seal the deal for a fee of between £2m-3m.

Lawal was not included in Celtic's matchday squad for their Scottish Premiership opener against Kilmarnock, suggesting that he is not in the plans of manager Brendan Rodgers for the 2024-2025 campaign despite traveling with the first team for the tour of the United States last month. 

The Irish-Nigerian starlet has not figured for the first team of the Hoops since making his senior debut  in a Scottish FA Cup clash against Greenock Morton FC on January 21, 2023.

He caught the eye during his loan spell at Fleetwood Town, especially in the back end of the campaign, registering seven goal involvements in the last fourteen matches but it was not enough to prevent the Fishermen from suffering relegation to the League Two. 

Signed from Watford in July 2021 after stops at Bohemian FC, St. Kevins Boys, Lawal has entered the last two years of his contract with Celtic.

He trained with Republic of Ireland's senior team in June before a pair of friendlies against Hungary and Portugal.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

Copyright ANS
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from allnigeriasoccer.com