Chelsea and Celtic have held talks over a loan deal for 18-year-old left-back Landon Emenalo. Standard Sport understands that while there is no certainty at this stage that a deal will be agreed, Emenalo was at Celtic’s Lennoxtown training ground on Wednesday.
Impressing in pre-season
Celtic are interested in Emenalo, who is poised for his first senior loan after impressing for Chelsea during pre-season this summer. The Cobham academy graduate would provide cover for first-choice left-back Kieran Tierney, the former Arsenal defender whose minutes are being managed due to his ongoing injury issues.
Emenalo, the son of former Chelsea director of football Michael Emenalo, made a positive impression on new manager Xabi Alonso during the recent tour to Australia and Asia, with his forward-thinking displays catching the attention.
Loan move likely
Such were the high levels of his performances, there had even been suggestions that Emenalo could stay at Chelsea and provide cover at left-back following the departure of Marc Cucurella to Real Madrid. However, that was always unlikely given Chelsea’s protracted pursuit of Spaniard Pep Chavarria, who finally moved to Stamford Bridge from Rayo Vallecano in an £18million deal on Wednesday.
Emenalo, who is yet to make a senior competitive debut for Chelsea, is instead set to gain some much-needed first-team experience elsewhere, with Celtic the frontrunners for his signature.
Other Chelsea loanees
Part of the latest crop of young talent to emerge from Chelsea’s ranks, Emenalo is set to join Reggie Walsh and Ryan Kavuma-McQueen in leaving the club on loan this season. Walsh is closing in on a switch to League One side Wigan, while Kavuma-McQueen is set to join Championship outfit Portsmouth.
Striker Shim Mheuka is also expected to leave Chelsea on loan soon amid talks over a long-term contract extension in west London.
