Celtic Opinion: Hoops should not make the mistake of dropping their interest in David Turnbull
According to The Herald, Celtic have been dealt a blow in their pursuit of Motherwell midfielder David Turnbull, with reports claiming that the Fir Park club want at least £3million to part ways with their prized asset.
The Herald understands that Celtic had submitted a bid of £1.2 million to test Motherwell’s resolve over the 19-year-old breakout star but the Hoops have been told to stump up more than double that cash to have any chances of striking a deal for the teenager.
Celtic, however, are not the only club to have been credited with an interest in David Turnbull, with the central midfielder also attracting interest from Glasgow rivals Rangers and Premier League outfits Southampton and Burnley. (h/t Daily Record)
A product of Motherwell’s youth system, Turnbull made his senior professional debut for his boyhood club in a Scottish Cup tie against Dundee back in February 2018. The starlet was handed his first league start in a 1-0 victory away at Partick Thistle towards the end of the 2017-18 season but he really came of age and took the Scottish top-flight by storm with his consistently impressive displays this term.
Turnbull racked up a staggering 15 goals and 6 assists in 30 appearances in the Scottish Premiership this season and his red-hot form attracted plenty of attention from the fans and the media. The 19-year-old also earned a call-up to Scotland’s U-21 side as a result of his incredible performances, having already represented his nation at the U-17 and U-19 levels.
The Scottish prodigy has really made heads turn with the numbers of goals and assists that he has delivered from a deep position in the midfield, so much so that his performances have prompted comparisons with German legend Michael Ballack (h/t Daily Record).
It is beyond doubt that Turnbull is an exceptional talent and he has already shown signs of outgrowing the Scottish top-flight with his stellar run of form.
To put things into perspective, David Turnbull is a player with a mountain of potential and Celtic could strike gold with the acquisition of the 19-year-old Motherwell prodigy this summer. The Hoops have had their previous bid turned down but they should not make the mistake of dropping their interest in the talented teenager and make an attempt to come back with a better offer, which might just persuade the Fir Park club to negotiate a deal.
Celtic are currently not crying out for reinforcements in central midfield and Turnbull would only play a bit-part role or spend time on loan elsewhere next season should a move materialize this summer.
The Hoops have the likes of Tom Rogic, Callum McGregor, Scott Brown and Ryan Christie, all of whom are pretty established players, meaning that Turnbull is likely to struggle for regular minutes.
However, Celtic should understand that Turnbull is amongst the brightest young prospects in Scottish football and they could have a future star in their hands if the 19-year-old goes on to fulfil his promise at Parkhead. Moreover, Olivier Ntcham is likely to depart the club this summer, which could open the door for someone like Turnbull to come in and add a few crucial goals.
It is hard to find central midfielders with such wonderful goalscoring prowess but David Turnbull looks like a man from another planet at this moment. He has already carved out a reputation for himself as one of the best free-scoring midfielders in Scotland, and at 19, there is still ample time left for him to make significant improvements to his game.
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Celtic clinched their 8th straight domestic title and completed their third consecutive domestic treble this season but they need to invest in young and talented players like David Turnbull to keep moving in the right direction.
