According to a recent report by Manchester Evening News, Manchester City are on the verge of signing Daniel Arzani from the ranks of sister club Melbourne City. Arzani is one of the highly rated young guns to emerge from Australia’s football scene and Pep Guardiola’s camp is likely to secure his signature before the summer transfer window shuts down.
However, he is reportedly lined up for a two-year loan spell with Scottish giants Celtic and is expected to be shipped out immediately to the Celtic Park. Although Dutch side PSV Eindhoven were also believed to be interested to sign him, it seems that Brendan Rodgers’ side are set to have the last laugh. Arzani is looking set to join his compatriot Tom Rogic at Celtic very soon.
Celtic haven’t been very busy in beefing up their arsenal this summer. Apart from the permanent signing of Odsonne Edouard from Paris Saint-Germain and Scott Bain from Dundee FC, Rodgers has been relatively quiet. Despite being heavily linked with Hibernian’s John McGinn, the Bhoys haven’t been able to prise him out of the Easter Road.
A few days earlier, the Hoops had tabled a bid of £2million for McGinn but the Hibs are reluctant to lose their prized asset for anything short of £4million. With domestic superiority to maintain and the need to better their credentials in the Champions League, Celtic do need one or two decent signings and it would make a lot of sense if they manage to lay their hands on Arzani.
The Australian international caught the eye of a handful number of teams at the 2018 World Cup held in Russia as he was the youngest member to appear for the Socceroos. He made three cameo appearances off the bench against France, Peru and Denmark and looked confident and calm in the minutes he played. If he manages to keep his developmental process in the ascendancy, he would emerge as a name to deal with a few years down the line.
Arzani is fast and possesses exceptional dribbling ability. He is capable of operating effectively on either wing as well as behind the striker. He has the ingredients to change the complexion of the game and no wonder he is targeted by Rodgers. The former Liverpool boss has perennially had the inclination to work with up and coming talent and fans would hope he turns out as another one of Rodgers’ success stories.