Deal close: Celtic now make progress in agreement with “special” Hoops player in new twist

Celtic youngster Rocco Vata has sparked attention from Italy this month,

with Serie A club Bologna and second-tier club Como FC both inquiring about a possible transfer.

As his current contract expires at the end of the season,

Vata was ready to depart the Scottish Premiership leaders – Celtic even gave him permission to go this month.

However, in a surprise twist, Brendan Rodgers’ side began discussions with a new players’ agency,

CAA Base, in the hopes of prolonging his time in Glasgow.

Vata is reported to be keen to stay with the club, provided he’s shown a suitable pathway to the first-team,

and now there’s further update on Celtic’s efforts to tie him down

Celtic close in on Vata agreement.

They have made progress in the previous 48 hours, and there is now hope that he may sign new agreements.

The deal with Vata would come as a surprise after he was told he could depart and meet with potential suitors,

but there is now a very real possibility that it may happen.

“Special” Vata could become a long-term star.

In 2022, Football players Scout Jacek Kulig identified Vata as part of a generation of young Irish players

who had the potential to achieve something “special” in their careers.

He’s certainly fulfilling Celtic’s B-team reputation this season,

having scored 12 goals in 15 Lowland League matches to tie for fifth place in the division.

Furthermore, only one player above him, Hearts’ Makenzie Kirk (1.3),

can better his 0.8 goals-per-match average.

Overall, he’s scored 23 goals in 34 games for the reserves,

which has undoubtedly piqued the interest of senior Celtic figures.

He became the club’s 11th-youngest player when he made his debut as a 17-year-old in December 2022,

and the 12th-youngest goalscorer when he scored as a substitute in a 5-0 Scottish Cup triumph

against Highland League side Buckie Thistle last weekend.

That was only his sixth appearance for the Hoops, so it didn’t take him long to make an impact.

Meanwhile, Vata made his international debut for Ireland’s under-21 team in September,

scoring twice in a victory over San Marino.

It wouldn’t be shocking if he became a significant player for the Greens in the coming years.

Based on previous stories, we can only infer that Celtic

has now made specific assurances to Vata regarding first-team possibilities.

It wouldn’t be surprising if he appeared in Rodgers’ Premier League matchday squad

on a few occasions between now and the end of the season, an opportunity he’s been denied thus far.

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