Celtic are weighing a January loan move for Dutch midfielder Joel van den Berg if the 19-year-old continues to lack first-team opportunities, Football Insider reported.
The Glasgow club signed him from PSV Eindhoven in the summer for £3.4 million and intends to support his development while assessing whether he can contribute to Martin O'Neill's squad this season.
Van den Berg has yet to make his senior debut for Celtic and has not been included in a matchday squad under O'Neill since 9 September.
According to Football Insider, the club could explore a temporary move for the second half of the season if his situation remains unchanged by January.
Long-term prospect
Celtic regard the teenager as a long-term prospect and recognize that adapting to a new country, culture and group of teammates may take time.
The club is also keen to avoid restricting his progress through a prolonged lack of competitive playing time.
Van den Berg arrived after a breakthrough season at PSV, where he made his first appearances in the senior setup.
He recorded five Eredivisie appearances last season, performances that helped persuade Celtic to pay £3.4 million for his services.
The midfielder completed his move late in the summer transfer window after spending the entire preseason with PSV.
As a Netherlands Under-19 international, he has yet to give Celtic supporters their first opportunity to see him play for the club.
Despite the possibility of a loan, Celtic are not certain to let him leave.
Football Insider reported that O'Neill is expected to retain Van den Berg as midfield injury cover in the coming months, meaning the youngster could receive opportunities if other players become unavailable.
The club must therefore weigh the benefits of regular football elsewhere against the need to maintain sufficient midfield depth.
A decision is expected to depend on the opportunities Van den Berg receives before the January transfer window.
Separately, former Aberdeen chief executive Keith Wyness has criticized Celtic's handling of right-back Anthony Ralston, who has struggled to secure a regular place in the team.
The 27-year-old Scotland international is still awaiting his first league appearance of the season and is approaching the final months of his contract, which expires at the end of the campaign.
Wyness recently told Football Insider that Ralston had become a victim of what he described as a "dysfunctional" setup at Celtic.
He believes the defender still has something to offer and does not deserve to be excluded from the group in his current circumstances.
