According to reports from the Daily Mail, San Jose Earthquakes are eyeing a deal to attract popular Celtic left-back Emilio Izaguirre to Major League Soccer.

What's the word?

Celtic's home match with Barcelona attracted viewers from all over the world on TV, but one American resident travelled to Paradise to take in the match, San Jose Earthquakes head coach Dominic Kinnear.

The Daily Mail claim Kinnear wasn't there purely for the atmosphere, but to check out Emilio Izaguirre in person ahead of a potential move this coming January or even next summer.

With the Honduran's contract running out at the end of the season and with no new deal guaranteed, Kinnear could be the first of many to head to Glasgow on an Izaguirre scouting mission.

Britain Football Soccer - Celtic v Leicester City - International Champions Cup - Celtic Park - 23/7/16
Leicester's Riyad Mahrez in action with Celtic's Emilio Izaguirre
Action Images via Reuters / Craig Brough
Livepic

Will Izaguirre stay?

Many Celtic fans expected Izaguirre to be leaving in the summer past with apparent goodbyes and emotions on show in the final games of last season.

However, it's well known that the six-year veteran of Celtic loves the club and the feeling is mutual, with fans continuing to serenade him from the stands on a weekly basis with his own song.

Despite making over 240 appearances for the Hoops over the years, first-team opportunities have been limited with the rise of teenage sensation Kieran Tierney. With Tierney on the injury table for the next few months, that situation has changed and that could trigger the club into taking action on Izaguirre's expiring contract.

How did he play against Barcelona?

We reckon that overall Dominic Kinnear will have been impressed with the performance of Izaguirre. Celtic's defence was always going to be up against it when facing Barcelona but one piece of first half magic aside, things were going well for the Bhoys.

That was until Luis Suarez was challenged in the box by the Honduran who fell for the notorious Uruguayan's tricks and conceded a penalty. Given that Suarez has done this to world class defenders all over the world, it's unlikely to have turned off potential suitors.

Izaguirre performances can at times be quite undisciplined as he moves forward to influence attacks but on Wednesday he was positionally on the ball and chipped in with some excellent tackles too.

The defender is well suited to the challenge of MLS and even if he leaves his heart in Glasgow, would soon find his feet in California.

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