Almost a month after reports first surfaced about a link up between Celtic and Admira Wacker there is still no concrete signs of a formal deal.
Tobi Oluwayemi and Matthew Anderson were reported to be in Austria on July 24 about to sign up for season long loans but nothing has been heard about either player with Admira now three games into their league campaign.
Finding a platform to accelerate the development of Academy prospects into first team players has remained elusive for a number of years with no sign that the Lowland League is doing that job.
In their third season, Celtic’s B team have failed to develop a first team prospect with Ben Summers and Ben McPherson going out on loan to Championship sides last week. In give matches this season just seven points have been picked up with the side sitting in mid-table.
Setting up a formal arrangement with a club like Admira would allow players to develop together and get a flavour for real competitive football, alongside and against seasoned pros playing for bonuses and real prizes.
For whatever reason there is no sign of deals for Oluwayemi and Anderson being completed with both players without meaningful pre-season action.
EXCLUSIVE! Celtic duo near Admira Wacker loan as prospects jet out to Austria | @ScottBurns75
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— Daily Record Sport (@Record_Sport) July 24, 2023
Oluwayemi featured in a video clip from Celtic’s Algarve Training Camp but he needs to get the opportunity to put into practise the tips that he picked up from training alongside Joe Hart. A loan spell with Cork City earlier this year was cut short.
There doesn’t seem to be any obvious reason for silence on the proposed loans, if no formal agreement can be set up between the two clubs it shouldn’t be impossible to sort out two loan deals to give the players a taste of competitive action.
Moving to a totally different environment can only help young players, getting them away from the familiar stadiums and opponents that the Scottish game throws up.
There could be some resentment from older pros at Admira facing a threat to their places from imports but at every level in the game you have to expect competition.
Celtic have tried in the past to set up formal relationships with Oostende and Ujpest Dozsa, the Belgian option never got off the ground while financial issues in Hungary saw the deal fold before a season had been completed.
Mark Lawwell’s apparent experience with the City Football Group should be able to assist with formal arrangements but almost a month down the line there is silence from both ends of the arrangement.
In separate developments Owen Moffat and Ben Wylie, two mainstays of the B team in season 21/22 are in the news with Moffat considering a loan move to Hamilton from Blackpool and Wylie signing up for Swedish Second Division side Ytterhogdals.
