Plenty of Celtic fans have been reacting to the news that teenage prodigy Karamoko Dembele is wanted by an English League One club.
The Daily Record reported that Gillingham had approached the Hoops with a loan offer for the 16-year-old, with the Scottish champions rejecting it out of hand as they feel the youngster would be better served continuing his development by training with Celtic rather than going out on loan to England. The news was subsequently relayed by @celticbible on Twitter.
https://twitter.com/celticbible/status/1222802833436741632
The teenager made his senior debut for the Hoops at the end of last season and has appeared as a substitute twice this term, against CFR Cluj in the Europa League in December and Ross County in last weekend’s Premiership clash (as per TransferMarkt). The scale of his potential has been recognised by L’Equipe, who last October included him in a list of six teenage footballers set to revolutionise the game, saying that he “seems destined for a great career” (as per Daily Record). Indeed, Dembele was playing at under-20 level for Celtic at the age of just 13, as per The Independent.
These Celtic fans on Twitter baulked at hearing of Gillingham’s attempts to take the teenage forward on loan:
He would get booted all over the place in league 1, so no chance
— scott McIntyre (@scottMc85081322) January 30, 2020
They’ve got some front 😂
— NC (@NC_UTLR) January 30, 2020
Good call. We need to keep him at Celtic. Not physically ready for 1st team football yet.
A loan to a janny English side would hinder his development
— Scott Killen (@ScottKillen88) January 30, 2020
To young and needs to work on his strength core developing nicely here at the moment
— J.P.Mullen-10iar 🏴 (@Buzzbomb11) January 30, 2020
When championship manager tries to come to life……
— sunnycoastbhoy (@sunnycoastbhoy) January 30, 2020
Gillingham btw. Gillingham
— Martino (@martino67_) January 30, 2020
HAHAHAHAHA
— Cadsy (@thecaddies7) January 30, 2020
Do you think Celtic were right to reject Gillingham’s loan offer for Dembele or would a loan spell have been useful for the youngster? Comment below with your views!
