BBC pundit Don Hutchison has told right winger Oliver Burke, who is on loan with Celtic from Championship side West Bromwich Albion, to stay with the Scottish champions, in order to further help him develop into a top-class performer.
Burke, a £9m-rated forward, has made quite a few headlines at Celtic, since joining the Scottish side from West Brom on loan in January, netting four goals and registering one assist.
While Burke has been off the boil in recent matches, there’s no denying how successful he can be if he’s to ply his trade in Scotland with Celtic on a permanent basis.
That has seen former Scotland international Don Hutchison urging the player to join the Hoops this summer, after his current loan deal expires at the end of the season.
Speaking on Radio 5 Live on Tuesday March 19th, Hutchison said:
“There’s no need for Oli Burke to move away from Celtic because at the present time, the form he has been in, not amazing form but y’know, better form from where he was a year ago. He probably wouldn’t get in most Premier League sides at the moment, not starting anyway.
“So this is no disrespect to Celtic but it’s a great place for Ollie Burke to try and improve, play well, and have an atmosphere and a crowd that are going to drive him on and a manager in Neil Lennon, or whoever it may be in the summer, that will drive him on to the next level.
“If I was giving Ollie Burke advice, I’d say stay at Celtic as long as you can as that is the place for you to learn your trade and get yourself to a high level.”
It remains to be seen whether Celtic have the resources to make a permanent move for the forward at the end of his loan spell with the club.
Burke joined West Brom from German club RB Leipzig on a five-year contract for a reported fee of £15m back in the summer of 2017 and the Baggies would be looking at a fee in this region.
While there is a lot of rebuilding to do at Celtic this summer, the permanent signing of Burke would be a great place to start.
