UNITED YOUNGSTER LINKED WITH POSSIBLE CELTIC MOVE

When it comes to giving youth chance, English Premier League giants Manchester United are fondly known as one of the best and most consistent teams in the world to do that. Over the years, we have seen a lot of youngsters rise up the ranks at the youth academy at Old Trafford although not all of then go on to reach the set expectations, the list is still growing. One of the current and most recent starlets the club boasts of is England youth inrernetionak star Shola Shoretire. The youngster has already been reported to be attracting a lot of interest from clubs who want to sign him on loan, but the Red Devils have kept on turning down those proposals as they reportedly have plans for him.

Shola was handed his senior team debut by former United manager Olé Gunnar Solksjaer as the Norwegian boss gave the young attacking midfielder the mod to play for the first time with the serious team both in the Premier League and in the Europa League. Since making his debut, there have been talks about whether or not United can have enough patience for his growth and development or if he would be allowed to go out on loan to gain more game time and experience.

That being said, Scottish Premiership club Celtic are said to have identified the player as a loan target and they are reportedly ready to get the deal done as early as possible – probably when the summer transfer window opens for business in a few months. United are highly unlikely to sanction any deal that would see Shola leave Old Trafford anytime soon because it is believed that there are plans in place for hkn to remain with the first team for the remainder of the current season and at the start of the next one.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: BARCELONA SUFFER FIRST DEFEAT

Spanish La Liga giants Barcelona suffered their first of the new season following the 2-0 defeat to home team Bayern Munich in the Champions League. The five-time European champions were unbeaten in their first six games of the season before the Bayern game.

Barcelonaare second on the Spanish La Liga log at the moment after recording four wins and one draw from their five games in the competition this season. They are two points off league leaders and arch rivals Real Madrid on the table. In addition to an unbeaten start to the season, Barcelona started their Champions League group stage campaign this season with an emphatic 5-1 victory over Viktoria Plzen buoyed by the three goals from new signing Robert Lewandowski. The Polish international scored his first hat-trick as a Barcelona player on the back of his €50m transfer from German champions Bayern Munich last month. The Calatan giants were on a six-game unbeaten run at the start of the season before the Bayern Munich game at the Allianz Arena this week.

German Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich have had the upper hand in recent Champions League meetings with Barcelona with a record of four wins, two draws and one defeat from seven games. The Bavarian giants made it five wins, two draws and one defeat from eight gameswith the 2-0 win in their latest meeting on Tuesday night courtesy the goals from Lucas Hernandez and Leroy Sane. Frenchman Hernandez and German star Sane scored within four second half minutes to leadBayern to a crucial victory at the expense of Barcelona. Hernandez scored the opener five minutes into the second half before Sane added the second goal four minutes later.

Barcelona would be hoping to bounce back from the defeat to Bayern when they take on Elche at home in the league this weekend.