Celtic close in on Irish starlet McCarthy

HAMILTON were last night fighting to keep hold of star midfielder James McCarthy after Celtic made their move for the teenager. Accies boss Billy Reid confirmed the Lanarkshire club had received a bid from the Scottish champions, which was set to be rejected.

But agent Willie McKay claims 18-year-old Republic of Ireland starlet McCarthy has his heart set on a move to Parkhead and as long as Celtic meet Hamilton’s valuation, it looks likely he will leave New Douglas Park this summer.

Reid refused to divulge the amount of the offer for McCarthy, which is the second bid for the player in just over a week after Portsmouth saw an approach rejected.

Pompey reportedly wanted to pay £500,000 to land arguably the hottest prospect in Scottish football, but Reid is not prepared to entertain anything less than a seven-figure bid.

“The club have received an offer for James. I can say at this stage that it will be rejected.”

McCarthy, who only signed a new three-year contract last summer, recently capped a superb debut season in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League by winning the PFA Scotland Young Player of the Year award.

McKay has claimed McCarthy would snub a move to England in order to join Celtic. Reid added: “We’re keeping James informed at all times of the situation. At this stage, he’s just focusing on the final two games of the season.”

Reid last week warned McCarthy’s suitors to forget about landing his prize asset on the cheap.

“James has had this for two years and he’ll not let it affect him,” he said. “We’ll sit down at the end of the season and talk about James’ future.”

But realistically speaking, Hamilton will struggle to hold on to McCarthy if the right offer comes in. Reid revealed last week if he were to lose McCarthy, he would welcome the chance to take him back on loan at any time.

Tom Boyd was a Scotland international by the time he joined Celtic following a long apprenticeship at Motherwell, but he cannot see McCarthy turning down the chance to move to Parkhead if Hamilton’s valuation is met.

Boyd captained Motherwell at the age of 20 but it was five years later when he joined the Hoops, via a short spell at Chelsea.

“It’s a difficult situation,” Boyd said. “I stayed a while at Motherwell. I don’t think there was the interest that there is in James McCarthy.

“But it’s something he can’t turn down. I think he’s a supporter as well so it’s probably a boyhood dream of his. There are quite a few players who have come here and not been able to handle the pressure that comes from playing for an Old Firm team. But that is something that he would develop over time.”

Boyd, who was at Celtic Park to promote the Tommy Burns tribute match on May 31, added of McCarthy: “He’s a gifted football player and he’s been making headlines at Hamilton, playing consistently well.

“It’s a position Celtic are adopting, they are trying to get the best youngsters to come to the club and develop them.

“Hopefully it will bear fruit, because if they buy a player like that – like they did Scott Brown – if he becomes really successful, they can sell him on perhaps to the English Premier.”