Celtic chose to move for Landon Emenalo after Motherwell left-back Emmanuel Longelo was put to the club, according to journalist Scott Burns.

The Hoops were looking for left-back cover late in the window, with Kieran Tierney carrying an injury concern and Liam Scales used on the left side of defence against Aberdeen.

Emenalo eventually completed his loan move from Chelsea, ending a deal that had been in the works for several weeks. The 18-year-old had visited Lennoxtown earlier in the window, but the move was delayed while Celtic assessed his fitness and dealt with interest from Queens Park Rangers and Watford.

Speaking on Hotline Live, Burns said: “I know you’ve been banging the drum on about Longelo at Motherwell, and I believe he was put to Celtic, and the Celtic recruitment team preferred Landon Emenalo, so there you go.”

CeltsAreHere understands the player was keen to leave Motherwell, and Celtic was a club he would have wanted to join.

Longelo joined Motherwell from Birmingham City in the summer and had been mentioned as a possible option during Celtic’s search for depth on the left side.

However, Burns’ update suggests Celtic’s recruitment team made their choice and decided Emenalo was the better fit.

The Chelsea youngster arrives as a straight loan with no option to buy. He was announced before the Aberdeen game but was not included in the squad, meaning he will have to wait for his first chance in a Celtic shirt.

Emenalo gives Martin O’Neill a natural left-sided defensive option behind Tierney, although Scales showed again in midweek that he can cover the role when needed.

Longelo, meanwhile, remains at Motherwell after being put forward as a possible solution. Celtic looked at the position, weighed up the options, and went with Emenalo.