England plot move to snatch Celtic kid Karamoko Dembele from Scotland's clutches

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Celtic wonderkid Karamoko Dembele is the target of an England swoop
The 13-year-old Dembele has made international headlines this week
Dembele came off the bench for Celtic’s Under-20s side against Hearts
The Football Association hope to take him from Scotland's clutches
Dembele was born in London to parents from the Ivory Coast, but moved to Glasgow when he was five

By Stephen Mcgowan For The Scottish Daily Mail

Published: 18:00 EST, 6 October 2016 | Updated: 03:01 EST, 7 October 2016

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England are plotting a move to snatch Celtic wonderkid Karamoko Dembele from Scotland’s clutches.

The 13-year-old created international headlines when he came off the bench to play the last nine minutes for Celtic’s Under-20 side against Hearts on Monday.

The Parkhead club face a battle to compete with enticements to the player’s family from Europe’s elite, while the Scottish Football Association are also fighting to stop their English counterparts from poaching Dembele away.

Karamoko Dembele is the target of an ambitious move by England to snatch his services

The young talent made his debut for Celtic's development side at the age of 13

Born in London to parents from the Ivory Coast, the youngster moved to Glasgow when he was five.

And Sportsmail has learned the English FA are keen on hijacking him for their own national set-up, if he can be persuaded to switch.

To keep England and the Ivory Coast at bay, the SFA want to pitch Dembele into the Victory Shield Under-16s tournament next month.

The teenager made history by coming on as a substitute on Monday night to make his debut

Dembele, 13, made his debut for Celtic's Under 20s development team this week

Scotland Under-21s coach Scot Gemmill believes the governing body will pull out all the stops to secure him after losing the likes of James McCarthy and Aiden McGeady in the past.

Gemmill said: ‘If we’ve got a good player coming through, then everything needs to be done. I’m sure it will be.’

An internet sensation, Dembele shot to attention with his performances against Barcelona and Lyon in a prestigious Under-15s tournament in Dublin earlier this summer.