Daniel Cummings is expected to remain at Celtic in the winter transfer window after the Scottish champions rejected an improved offer from West Ham United.
The 18-year-old striker has been offered a pre-contract agreement by West Ham which would allow him to join the club in the summer following the conclusion of his Celtic deal, but the Premier League side are keen to bring him in earlier.
However, Celtic do not want to sanction a move for him during the winter window.
Cummings has attracted attention after scoring 26 goals in 27 games for Celtic B this season, including six in six games in the UEFA Youth League.
He made his senior debut against Aston Villa in the Champions League this month.
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers confirmed in January there had been interest in Cummings, but added he encouraged young players to show “trust” and “patience” with the club and the pathway into the first team
“I believe there’s interest from another club for him, but that’s been the case with a lot of our young players,” Rodgers said.
“You get to a certain age where they have their contract running out, and then they have a decision to make.
“Do they stay and follow the example of a Callum McGregor, for example, trust the club, be patient and knowing that you might not be right ready at 17, 18, but you have to be a special talent to be.
“Can you just be patient and wait a little bit longer? Or do you do what a lot of players have done and take the opportunity at 18 to look elsewhere?
“So, I think that’s the situation that young Daniel is with his agents. We will just wait and see what happens.”
(Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
