---
title: "Celtic: Alan Hutton hails ‘massive’ Johnny Kenny swoop"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/celtic-alan-hutton-reacts-to-johnny-kenny-swoop/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Charlie Smith"
section: "Celtic News"
published: "2022-01-06T12:26:29Z"
modified: "2022-01-06T12:29:06Z"
---

# Celtic: Alan Hutton hails ‘massive’ Johnny Kenny swoop

**Pundit Alan Hutton has been reacting to Celtic’s rumoured swoop for teenage striker Johnny Kenny, [Football Insider](https://www.footballinsider247.com/hutton-issues-massive-celtic-rangers-claim-as-kenny-deal-all-but-done-pundit/) report.**

### The Lowdown: Hoops set to pip Hibs

The Hoops were first [linked](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/celtic-transfer-rumours/celtic-hoops-linked-with-johnny-kenny/) with a move for the 18-year-old way back in September, shortly after the summer window slammed shut.

Since then, Celtic have kept tabs on the Sligo Rovers man and were set to [battle](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/celtic-transfer-rumours/celtic-hoops-to-battle-for-johnny-kenny/) Hibernian for his services.

[Celtic updates!! (Copy)](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/celtic-updates-copy/)

It appears as if they will pip Hibs in the race for the forward during the [January transfer window](https://www.givemesport.com/1754870-january-transfer-window-2022-when-does-it-open-when-does-it-close-and-which-players-are-going-to-move), with [reports](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/celtic-transfer-rumours/celtic-hoops-poised-to-sign-johnny-kenny-in-coming-days/) earlier in the week claiming a move is now just days away from, being finalised.

### The Latest: Hutton hails ‘massive’ move

Hutton, who regularly features on [BBC Radio 5 Live](https://icdb.tv/stats/3725/Alan-Hutton), was talking to [Football Insider](https://www.footballinsider247.com/hutton-issues-massive-celtic-rangers-claim-as-kenny-deal-all-but-done-pundit/) regarding Celtic’s move for Kenny.

He labelled it as ‘massive’ for such a young player to be wanted by both Old Firm clubs, making it a huge coup for the Hoops to have won the race.

\[freshpress-poll id=”375987″\]

> “For an 18-year-old, for Rangers or Celtic to want you is massive. It’s a massive opportunity to come play for one of the biggest clubs.
>
> “He’s only 18, you would think he would go into the Celtic youth setup. Then there would be a chance to move up to the first team.
>
> “For Hibs, it’s a bitter blow. I read that they had him over as a VIP guest. You would think they would integrate him into their first team.
>
> “It just shows you the lure of Rangers and Celtic. He is willing to go and play can B-team football, if you want, instead of SPFL’s top league.
>
> “It’s one of those, you totally understand his decision. It’s a great opportunity for him.
>
> “But he is going to have to give it his all to try and prove to Ange Postecoglou he’s ready to be involved in the first team.”

### The Verdict: Exciting long-term addition

Should Celtic officially sign Kenny, you’d expect he’d go straight into the club’s B side with a view to progressing into Ange Postecoglou’s plans over the coming years.

It shows a sign of the Hoops thinking long-term under the Aussie, and a move could turn out to be just as important as the arrival of senior forward Daizen Maeda in the long run.

Kenny has scored [12](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/johnny-kenny/leistungsdaten/spieler/875208) goals in [34](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/johnny-kenny/leistungsdaten/spieler/875208) appearances for Sligo Rovers, so he may well hit the ground running for the reserves in 2022.

***In other news: [Celtic may now sign £4.5m-rated man on loan; would ‘separate’ Nicholson from Lawwell.](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/celtic-news/celtic-hannes-wolf-loan-possible/)***