Celtic have joined the race to sign in-demand Swansea defender Alfie Mawson, according to a report from WalesOnline citing reports from Sky Sports.
The newspaper claims that the Scottish champions are targeting the 23-year-old, but are joined by a host of Premier League sides in trying to snap up the defensive player.
The Welsh news outlet says that Everton and West Ham United are also vying for his signature, while linking back to a story from Sky Sport which reports that Watford are also interested in signing Mawson.
Sky Sports reported in their live transfer blog on Friday that Swansea are looking to pocket £25million in order to sell Mawson, who has been in great shape for the Premier League side this season despite the South Wales clubs’ struggles at the bottom of the table.
Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins has since given an update on the physical centre-back’s future at the Liberty Stadium, making it clear that talks are underway with his agents over a new deal for the 23-year-old.
“We have had no approach, no offers from West Ham on anything to do with Alfie,” Jenkins said, as quoted by WalesOnline.
“The intentions are to keep every player and we are talking to Alfie and his agents (about a new contract).”
The Hoops will surely not be able to afford £25million for Mawson, however, the Swans may be forced to drop their asking price to entice a club from outside the Premier League to stop the centre-back joining one of their rivals. However, Celtic will have a lot of clearing out to do in order to make up the money for Mawson, and in reality, they don’t really need to.
The London Borough born-defender is a solid centre-back and would only be needed at Parkhead to further the Hoops run in Europe. The Domestic competition are a given for the Bhoys and he would only perhaps help them concede less goals in a season. To get him they would probably need to see Moussa Dembele and someone else, and that would make the move less worthwhile.