Third time lucky as Celtic go back to Charlton with £800k Doughty bid

Celtic’s determination to sign Charlton Athletic’s left sided 20 year old Alfie Doughty to replace the unrepentant Boli Bolingoli who on Sunday signed a season long loan deal, with an option to buy, with Turkish Champions İstanbul Başakşehir, is clear.

Zero remorse from Bolingoli

With two low-ball bids already thrown out Peter Lawwell will today test Charlton’s resolve with a third bid for the player he reckons that he can sign in January on a pre-contract – the same tactic that saw Ivan Toney lose patience and decide instead to opt for a move to Brentford and a slog in the English Championship.

Toney held out For Celtic but eventually decided to join Brentford

With Albian Ajeti joining Odsonne Edouard and Patryk Klimala on the scoresheet at the weekend and with Leigh Griffiths now ready to join the squad perhaps Celtic can live without the predatory skills of the former Peterborough striker. However Bolingoli’s departure, coupled with the earlier decision to allow Jonny Hayes to leave the club – he returned to Aberdeen – it’s clear that Greg Taylor needs competition at left back/left wing back – a position that James Forrest, usually a right winger, played on Saturday.

That only happened because Neil Lennon was able to revert to the 3-5-2 formation that he craves but hasn’t had the personnel to deploy this season – until Dingwall.  Shane Duffy’s arrival on a season long loan from Brighton and Ajeti getting closer to match fitness allowed the manager to go with 3-5-2 and to devastating effect. James Forrest’s unusual place in the team – down the left hand side – allowed Jeremie Frimpong to patrol the right wing and he’s making a strong case for making that position his own.

READ THIS…Celtic suffer left back blow as second bid rejected for Charlton starlet

Now though Neil Lennon is zoning in on the final piece of his 3-5-2 jigsaw puzzle and will be hoping that the Celtic CEO can get this one over the line with the new £800,000 bid – Celtic’s third for the player in just over a week – will be a case of third time lucky. Respected journalist David Friel reports this morning in Scottish Sun that Celtic are back in for Doughty for a third attempt and confirms that the bid will be £800k.

Alfie Doughty

“Cross-border compensation will be minimal at the end of the season, leaving Charlton with a real dilemma. The Londoners are the subject of a takeover bid by Danish businessman Thomas Sandgaard. And a decent six-figure offer for Doughty could be tempting at this point,”  Friel reports.

Fingers crossed that Peter Lawwell can get this one agreed.

PHOTO NICOLAS CREACH / LE TELEGRAMME. FOOTBALL Stade Brestois ( 29 ) LE 13082020 centre d’entrainement du Stade Brestois à Pen Helen.

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About Author

The Celtic Star founder and editor David Faulds has edited numerous Celtic books over the past decade or so including several from Lisbon Lions, Willie Wallace, Tommy Gemmell and Jim Craig. Earliest Celtic memories include a win over East Fife at Celtic Park and the 4-1 League Cup loss to Partick Thistle as a 6 year old. Best game? Easy 4-2, 1979 when Ten Men Won the League. Email editor@thecelticstar.co.uk

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