Why Celtic loaning out Jonathan Afolabi would be an ideal move
According to the Daily Record, Celtic striker Jonathan Afolabi has emerged as a loan target for Scottish Championship outfit Dundee. The 20-year-old is currently way down the pecking order under Hoops boss Neil Lennon and could be allowed to go out on loan to gain valuable experience.
Profile
Born in Dublin, Republic of Ireland, to parents of Nigerian descent Jonathan Afolabi played for Shamrock Rovers and St.Joseph’s Boys at the youth level before joining the Southampton academy. He featured regularly for the Saints’ U-23 side at the Premier League 2 level while also impressing in the EFL Trophy.
Afolabi was snapped up by Scottish champions Celtic as a part of their youth recruitment drive south of the border last summer that also marked the arrival of highly-rated prospects like Jeremie Frimpong and Luca Connell at Parkhead.
The 20-year-old has represented Ireland at the U-21 level and was named in the Team of the Tournament at the 2019 UEFA U-19 European Championship. Afolabi is yet to make a senior professional appearance for Celtic, having spent the second half of the previous campaign on loan at Dunfermline Athletic in the Scottish second-tier.
Loan move – Ideal for all parties?
Celtic have already strengthened their striking ranks with the acquisition of Albian Ajeti from West Ham this summer. The Swiss international has hit the ground running at Parkhead with 5 goals and an assist in 6 league appearances for the Hoops, thus providing Neil Lennon with a quality alternative to star man Odsonne Edouard.
Patryk Klimala has also grabbed his limited opportunities in front of goal, benefitting from the injury absence of seasoned campaigner Leigh Griffiths. Celtic already have enough competition for places in front of goal, with Griffiths set to join the likes of Edouard, Klimala, and Ajeti in the ranks later in the year once he works his way back to full fitness.
Plus, Lennon hasn’t hesitated to use Ryan Christie as a second striker whenever he has gone in with two men up top. Hence, it’s easy to see that an unproven youngster like Jonathan Afolabi faces an uphill task to break into the manager’s plans.
To put things into context, the 20-year-old’s prospects of playing regularly in Celtic’s first-team look incredibly slim at the moment. Hence, a loan move away from Parkhead should serve both parties well.
Afolabi is at a stage in his career where he needs to play regular football at the senior level to continue his development. That seems unlikely to happen at Celtic and wasting his time on the sidelines or in the club’s youth ranks is only going to stall his progress.
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Verdict
Jonathan Afolabi remains a highly-regarded prospect with plenty of potential and a temporary switch to the Scottish second-tier with Dundee could work in favour of his development.
The Irishman showed strong signs of promise while on loan at Dunfermline last season, scoring twice in 6 appearances and Celtic should be looking to provide him with more regular minutes at that level this time around if a loan move does materialise.
