Bolton starlet Luca Connell has broken his silence on Celtic's interest and admitted it would be "an honour" to play for the Hoops.
The out-of-contract midfielder is weighing up his options as he prepares to hook up with the Ireland U19 squad at the European Championships in Armenia next month.
Tottenham, Southampton, Burnley and Brighton are all interested in Connell.
But Celtic are understood to be at the front of the queue with some reports south of the border claiming the Scottish champions are waiting only on Bolton's administrators to appoint a preferred bidder to make the move happen.
The 18-year-old playmaker would be available for a cut-price £250,000 cross-border development fee should Neil Lennon win the race for the teen.
“Everyone knows Celtic are a massive club," said the player who was called up to Mick McCarthy's Ireland training camp last month.
"It’d be an honour to represent them if that’s what the final decision is. I’m keeping my options open and hopefully I can take the right one in the next few weeks.
“I just want to make sure I’m playing, wherever I go.
“I’ve read in the media that lots of big clubs are interested but I think at this age it’s important to be playing. Then hopefully the money will come with that.
“It has been a busy summer. I’ve had quite a few clubs interested but they come and go by the day. Let’s see which ones stick by me.
“I'm sure that my agent will have something sorted out for me one way or the other and with what's best for me.”
Bolton's administrators hope to make a positive announcement on new owners later this week.
