By Lewis Anderson
Celtic have been urged to consider to summer swoop for Irish teenage sensation Cathal O鈥橲ullivan after Brentford became the latest in a growing list of Premier League clubs to have declared in interest in snapping up the striker. In addition to the Scottish champions, a number of English clubs have been linked with the 18-year-old Cork City starlet in recent weeks. However, potential suitors had been told to act quickly after it was widely reported that O鈥橲ullivan could be on the verge of joining Crystal Palace with a deal to be concluded in the coming days. Nottingham Forest and Preston North End are among others to have added the Republic of Ireland Under-21 international to their transfer wishlist. Hoops boss Brendan Rodgers will hope to get a closer look at the highly-rated prospect when he takes his Celtic side across the water for a pre-season friendly against Cork at P谩irc U铆 Chaoimh later this month. O鈥橲ullivan, who has seven goals and nines assist in 49 first-team games under his belt, has previously revealed he dreams of pulling on the famous green and white hoops in the future. Speaking in March, he said: 鈥淵eah, it鈥檚 definitely an ambition because obviously the link with Ireland and Celtic. It鈥檚 a huge club, massive club so yeah, I would love to go over and play for a club like Celtic. The best food, sport and culture in our GlasgowWorld newsletter – sign up here. 鈥淚 love watching their games and how impressive their Champions League run was this year, and my dad is the same. My dad supports Celtic if they鈥檙e on the TV. There鈥檚 a connection between Ireland and Celtic or Cork and Celtic, there鈥檚 a huge amount of fans over here.鈥 Irish Football Expert Darryl Geraghty has kept a close eye on O’Sullivan’s progress from a young age, as he rose up through the Cork City academy. He has provided an intriguing insight into what the talented youngster could bring to the table – even drawing comparisons to Barcelona prodigy Lamine Yamal. 鈥淐athal O鈥橲ullivan is the name on everyone鈥檚 lips at the moment”, he told Betway. 鈥淗e recently turned 18 and just celebrated it with his first inclusion in an Ireland Under-21 squad. He was called up by Jim Crawford to play Croatia and Qatar – and it was honestly no surprise. 鈥淭hose matches were another opportunity to bubble up hype before he moves abroad. He鈥檚 a left-footer but normally operates off the right side of an attacking three, cutting in to shoot. 鈥淗e came through Leeside United before joining Cork City鈥檚 academy. He played at pretty much every age group there before being massive in their promotion back to the top division. He got seven goals, three assists and he鈥檚 just a constant threat 鈥淗e got into the PFAI Team of the Year as well off the back of some stunning performances and a few absolute stunners as well. I think – thanks to his low centre of gravity and pace from a standing start – he鈥檚 made the step up to the Irish Premier Division look easy. 鈥淗e鈥檚 already got three assists this season. He鈥檚 got that Lamine Yamal or Mo Salah-style ability to drift inside or outside, burst away from his marker. Then he just seems to let fly whenever he gets the chance. “What really stands out with him though – and it might not be the first thing you think of with a player like this – is his ferocious tenacity. He works back, does the ugly side of the game heading towards his own goal, and that鈥檚 something managers notice. 鈥淣ow, of course, like any young attacker, the final ball and his ruthlessness in front of goal will only get better with age.”