Celtic have reportedly intensified talks with Tottenham Hotspur over Alfie Devine…
The midfielder’s name hit the headlines before the end of last season, when it wad claimed that Martin O’Neill and Mark Fotheringham had been in attendance at a Championship encounter to watch the Preston North End loanee at that time.
The Lilywhites had taken the Spurs star on a short-term deal to England’s second division last term, where Devine flourished by all accounts, who bagged 8 goals and 6 assists down the road for the Deepdale club. Preston had thought to have held a £6 million option-to-buy included in the player’s deal which took him to Lancashire, but that expired on 1 July.
Now it appears that Celtic and Martin O’Neill’s recruitment team are keen to finish the job where Preston could not, and offer the 21-year-old star an opportunity to play Champions League football, all things going well. The Celtic Way has reported that talks are “accelerating” for the aforementioned Devine, who is surplus to requirements at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with a plethora of talent already there and fighting for a starting place under new manager, Roberto De Zerbi.
Celtic have not really started their summer rebuild yet, as only Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has officially signed on for another year. Make no mistake though, this is merely maintaining what was already there, and the Hoops must add to the collective, as opposed to cutting more faces from a squad that is lacking strength in depth.
Rumours are constant surrounding the likes of Arne Engels, Alistair Johnston, Daizen Maeda and Benjamin Nygren, with English Premier League sides thought to be courting all four men. Likewise, Reo Hatate has confirmed to the club that he wishes to leave Celtic Park and try something different, meaning more replacements need sourced again.
The club are said to be talking with Qarabag about the prospect of Camilo Duran becoming a Bhoys player, however despite that news breaking, nothing has surfaced that suggests it is by any means a done deal and that will terrifying supporters because of our previous history in transfer negotiations.
Duran’s agent is reported to be in Glasgow this weekend too, to thrash out personal terms, but as things stand, nothing is signed, sealed or indeed delivered.
The support needs to see signs of life now – and fast.
Paul Gillespie
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3 Comments
Actually lads the record has reported that camilo durran is undergoing a medical and could sign as soon as tomorrow
How intensified do talks have to become before the inept Michael Nicholson & Co get their fat fingers out and pay the money? – and move on to Saracchi! Jeez.
For Devine, I would struggle to believe that a better career opportunity is available to himself, especially with the chances of working with Calmac and the OX, within our midfield areas imo?
More importantly, with spending a season within the English championship, would be better prepared for the intensity and physicality that the SPFL brings with it also?
Wouldn’t say that the quality factor is going to be an issue, and potentially has the mentality to want to succeed within our club also?
Especially with MoN as a fantastic example of knowing what it takes to be a success at our club?
But that doesn’t mean that Devine, along with any other players, see things in the same light, regarding there careers either?
Obviously someone like Devine, along with many others, would also be considering there potential futures after ourselves also, especially at his age?
But that would be a setback if he doesn’t become a success with ourselves?
So can understand, players taking there time to decide, if joining ourselves is the right move for there own careers?
But we aren’t in a position to keep playing the waiting game either? Especially with so many weaknesses within our core group, for our squad building process imo?
Still hoping that this deal can be concluded, but still requires our negotiating team to start getting serious also?
That still seems to be a sticking point, that we remain to struggle within at present imo?