QPR boss Mark Warburton offers firm assessment of Celtic links | OneFootball

QPR boss Mark Warburton has labelled reports of Celtic and a host of other clubs’ interest in young forward Sinclair Armstrong as “absolute nonsense”.

As per Goal’s transfer blog (17/01, 10:02am), a host of European top flight clubs are eyeing the 18-year-old, including Brentford, Celtic, Hoffenheim, Man City and Southampton.

The Premier League champions are said to be leading the race for Armstrong, who joined the R’s in October 2020 and is yet to make a senior appearance for the west London club.

Pressed on the reports linking the teenager with a move away from the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium, Warburton did not hold back in his assessment of the situation.

He told West London Sport: “I’d imagine his agent has been extremely busy.

“He’s 18 and played eight games for Torquay.

“I’m not being derogatory in any way, I just don’t want to put pressure on a young player’s shoulders too early.

“Rumours of Celtic and Man City? I’d imagine certain agents have been extremely busy.

“When you see all these names (of big clubs) you just know agents are busy at work in the January window.

“It’s absolute nonsense. Let’s give the boy a chance now for the next stage of his career.”

There could yet be a move for Armstrong this month, however, with West London Sport suggesting that the R’s are open to sending him out on loan for the second half of the season.

The Republic of Ireland U19 international spent the first half of the 2021/22 campaign on loan with non-league side Torquay United – scoring two goals in eight games in the National League.

Can you name which club QPR signed these 28 defenders from?

1 of 28

Who did QPR sign Sam McCallum on loan from in 2021?

Norwich City Southampton Brentford Leeds United

The verdict

You can always rely on Warburton to give an honest assessment and not mince his words – and he’s certainly made his thoughts on the situation clear here.

It seems he believes there is nothing to the links between Armstrong and some European top-flight clubs.

Given the forward is yet to make his senior debut for the R’s and wasn’t exactly pulling up trees while on loan in the National League, you feel Warburton may be on the right track but the January window can throw up some strange moves at times.

You’d imagine this isn’t the last we’ll hear concerning Armstrong and a move to a bigger club but whether those words will be followed with action remains to be seen.