Portsmouth make move to sign Celtic player – report

Celtic’s young defender Bosun Lawal is attracting interest from League One clubs Portsmouth and Bristol Rovers, with both sides keen on securing a loan deal for the talented centre-back, as revealed by sources to Football Insider.

As the 2023/24 season approaches, it appears likely that Lawal will depart from Parkhead to gain valuable playing time elsewhere.

Portsmouth and Bristol Rovers are eager to bolster their squads ahead of the upcoming campaign, and they have identified Lawal as a potential addition to their defensive options.

Highly regarded in Glasgow, Lawal made the move to Celtic in the summer of 2021 from Watford, where he had progressed through the ranks during his time at the Hornets’ academy between 2019 and 2021.

Despite the promise he showed, Lawal has struggled to break into Celtic’s first team, only making a brief appearance in the Scottish Cup last season, playing for a mere three minutes.

Throughout the previous season, the 20-year-old defender played predominantly for Celtic’s B side, amassing an impressive 1,800 minutes on the pitch.

Despite being primarily deployed as a centre-back, he showcased his versatility by occasionally featuring in a midfield role, contributing with six goals and two assists.

Due to his lack of regular first-team action at Celtic Park, the coaching staff have decided that a loan move is the best way for Lawal to gain valuable experience and further develop his skills.

Lawal’s abilities have also caught the attention of international scouts, and he has already represented the Republic of Ireland at various youth levels, starting from the Under-15s squad and progressing up to the Under-21s, where he has earned four caps so far.

As the promising young defender continues to impress both domestically and internationally, the upcoming loan move could be a pivotal moment in Bosun Lawal’s career, providing him with the platform to showcase his talent and potentially return to Celtic as a more polished player in the future.