Celtic have missed out on Alfie Doughty with the highly-rated youngster deciding to join Championship side Stoke City. The versatile left sided defender has joined Michael O’Neill’s side in a deal worth £650,000. Celtic were hoping to tempt him to the club on a pre-contract but the player has opted to join the Premier League hopefuls.
Neil Lennon’s side had been tracking the player for some time but failed to prise him away from the London club last summer. Now, he has opted to move to Stoke City, who are currently 8th in the Championship.
Celtic made a number of bids during the summer transfer window but opted against paying over the odds for the talented youngster. Instead, they signed Diego Laxalt on loan from AC Milan as a replacement for Bolingoli with the Uruguayan impressing. Doughty can play in attack and defence and would almost be like a Jonny Hayes type signing, high energy and versatility.
Celtic will see the left side depleted with Elyounoussi and Laxalt’s loan deals concluding in the summer. The club need to restructure and rebuild ahead of next season after what has been a bitterly disappointing season for the Quadruple Treble winners.