Departing Blues youngster Kundai Benyu is reportedly set to join Scottish Premiership champions Celtic.

According to the Scottish Sun the Glasgow giants have fought off previously reported interest from Tottenham, West Ham and Aston Villa to land the Camden-born midfielder with the youth compensation due to Town to be set by a tribunal.

The 19-year-old, who spent a successful spell on loan at Aldershot last season, was offered new terms by the Blues with his contract up this summer but the two parties were unable to agree a deal.

Speaking about Benyu’s situation at the first day of pre-season training on Monday, manager Mick McCarthy said: “He is [out of contract]. He’s free to do, well, he’s not free, but if he goes somewhere there’ll be compensation.”

Asked whether contract talks were still ongoing, the Blues boss added: “Well, he’s not here today, so no.”

After a difficult 2015/16 in which he admitted he had shown a poor attitude, Benyu was allowed to join Tottenham’s U19s for a NextGen tournament in Amsterdam last summer but failed to impress.

Benyu, who was an unused sub for the Town first team but without making it on to the field, subsequently apologised to McCarthy at the start of pre-season training last year and was a regular in the U23s until joining Aldershot on loan in December, where he won rave reviews as he helped the Shots into the Vanarama National League play-offs.

Photo: TWTD

brian_a_mul added 09:20 - Jun 29 Celtic and Rodgers do like to bring young players through, plus they are a Champions League team and challenge for every domestic trophy. Plus the exposure players get at Celtic is phenomenal. A young player playing well at Celtic and exposed to champions League = Megabucks. example Dembele who signed from Fulham a season ago. is worth 20+mil. Sounds like Benyu has a very aggressive and clever agent I hope Rodgers is wise to Benyu (& agent) and will not tolerate any egos. If so Benyu could be out on his ear very quickly. Well done Benyu and I hope you make a genuine effort.

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grumpyoldman added 10:10 - Jun 29 Guthrum you seem to be under the illusion we are a big club, "if he thinks his talents are above Ipswich, then good luck to him, we shall see". We have not been a big club for a very long time, not since not long after SRB left us in fact, we may have flirted with the big time under George but in all honesty we performed way above expectations.
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Pilgrimblue added 10:23 - Jun 29 I agree not much we could do but perhaps MM can now go after Cambridge lad
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Bergholtblue added 11:27 - Jun 29 Sounds like this has more to do with attitude and application than with football ability. It does not matter who you are or how good, if they don't want to play for the club then why keep them. Admitted that he may not have had the opportunities that his qualities deserved but at the end of the day you just have to do what the manager demands.
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Bluebongo added 11:28 - Jun 29 As a young Pro footballer first and foremost he must have the right attitude. Unfortunately Kundai Benyu hasn,t.
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GerkensBeard added 14:21 - Jun 29 Don't blame Mick for this. Looking at the bigger picture we've got Dozzell and Bishop who are in the same position and ahead in their development. And apart from bishop loving a night out I haven't heard he or Andre have attitude problems either. Really hope to see those 2 become regular features this season. If we don't sign any other central players I wouldn't mind seeing Skuse, Huws and Bishop/Dozzell in a midfield 3 to start the season. Hope Grant Ward plays out wide this season. He's only going to get better there and has so much pace. Make him into a great winger and being the other 2 through in the central position.

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cat added 15:49 - Jun 29 Big shame about this fella, although it difficult to judge without knowing the full facts, something we will probably never find out. Good luck to the lad though as he undoubtably has ability. Prebbs007 - for some reason your post has received a right good mullering, not sure why though as it appears very reasonable imo. Maybe it was not positive enough! :-)
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Kesblue66 added 08:43 - Jun 30 Good luck to him,he probably would never get a game here.Like most of the youngsters.
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Guthrum added 10:17 - Jun 30 grumpyoldman - We're in the second tier of English football. Only the Prem is bigger, along with the highest divisions in a few other countries (in some cases only the top end of those). We may not be where we were under Robson, but we aren't small fry either.
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jas0999 added 21:07 - Jul 5 Very bad news. Great we have signed three new players and resigned Huws on a permanent deal BUT squad looks week still as another good prospect leaves.
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