TRANSFER TRACKER STATUS: Report
Mark McKenzie has been the subject of transfer rumors throughout the MLS is Back Tournament, specifically involving Scottish giants Celtic. And now that the Philadelphia Union are out of the competition following a semifinal defeat to the Portland Timbers, sporting director Ernst Tanner provided an update on Celtic's interest in the US men’s national team center back.
Speaking to Scotland's Daily Record, Tanner also described the 21-year-old as “probably the most interesting prospect in our country in terms of defending.”
Tanner said he fielded a call from Celtic regarding McKenzie, but he said the Union were not willing to talk before or during MLS is Back.
“Will they come back? That is not in my obligation,” Tanner said. “That is up to Celtic. There is obviously a little bit of an interest, but there are so many players in the market at the moment.”
ESPN’s Taylor Twellman said during the broadcast of the Union’s group stage opener against NYCFC July 9 that Celtic are “all over” McKenzie, with the team’s scouts keeping a close eye on the Homegrown defender.
McKenzie, who has worked up way up through the US youth national teams, wearing the captain’s armband at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Poland last year, signed a new contract with the Union through 2022, with club options through 2024 in January.
