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Leeds United have launched a bid to prize the “next Kieran Tierney” away from Celtic.
The English Premier League outfit have made a bid for teenage defender Matthew Anderson, reports the Yorkshire Evening Post.
Leeds are also understood to have an interest in Celtic Park starlet Leo Hjelde, but it’s Anderson they’ve made their move for.
He signed his first pro contract with the Scottish Premiership runners up back in January 2020 after being spotted playing for the Blantyre Youth Academy.
The 17-year-old was a member of Darren O’Dea’s Under 18 team before the youngster were placed on furlough after the Covid-19 pandemic forced youth football into cold storage.
Anderson has represented Scotland at Under 16 level and has featured in the Victory Shield.
And his former Blantyre coach Jimmy Whelan believes he can go on and reach the same heights as Tierney, who’s become one of Arsenal ’s main men and a key figure for Scotland during Euro 2020 after bursting on to the Celtic first team scene.
“It’s fantastic for us as a club, and it’s great to see Matthew doing so well,” he told the Daily Record last year.
“He really is one to watch, he is the real deal, and could be like Kieran Tierney.”
Leeds are planning a summer recruitment drive for their Thorpe Arch academy, with Anderson’s teammate Hjelde also on their radar.
The Norwegian spent last season on loan at Ross County and helped the Staggies secure their top flight status and earned rave reviews from former boss John Hughes.
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The former Celtic centre back even hailed the teenager as the next ‘Virgil van Dijk”, saying: I 100% believe he will reach the Premier League. Leo is going to be the next Virgil Van Dijk, trust me on that, trust me. He has got a lot to learn but for being a young kid, to come on loan during Covid in this climate, what he’s produced has been absolutely fantastic.
“He has still got a lot of learning but before he came here Leeds United were after him. I think he signed an extension to his Celtic contract for this loan to go through. He is going to be a centre-back but he can play left-back.
“Everything a loan does for a kid, playing competitive football every week, trying to win every week, playing men’s football, standing up to it and the disappointments. There have been one or two occasions he could have done better but that’s part of it. It’s been a wonderful experience for Leo.
“He is a good kid, a good professional. At this moment in time he has picked up a wee virus but thankfully it’s not Covid-19. It has knocked him back a wee bit. But once he’s over that, he will challenge again. But I take my hat off to him and he’s got a massive future.”
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