DARREN BENT has tipped Celtic target Barry Douglas to reject a move to Celtic in favour of challenging in the Premier League with newly-promoted Leeds United. The 30-year-old is high up on Neil Lennon’s transfer wishlist according to Sky Sports as the Bolingoli fiasco forces the club into the market for a left back.
However, speaking to Football Insider, Bent has said that the draw of trying his hand in the Premier League will be more of a draw to the Pollok born defender than winning 10IAR with Celtic.
“The only difficulty is he’s got a year left on his contract and it’s a year in the Premier League.
“He might not play as much but everyone wants to play in the Premier League first and foremost so he might look at that situation and come back from pre-season raring to go and say: ‘I want game time in the Premier League.’
“So if he was at the end of his contract then I’d say he’d jump at it but I’m pretty sure that he’s going to want a crack at the Premier League and then maybe assess the situation as he’s going through the season.”
Known for his dead ball delivering and impressive crosses, Douglas was part of the Wolves side that earned promotion to the Premier League before switching to Elland Road. The ex-Dundee United defender was joint highest on the assists leaderboard in the 17/18 season as Wolves won the league.
Celtic will surely be looking at other options and Douglas is just one of the options but hopefully Bolingoli will be off the books soon. The left-back is expected to depart shortly with an offer on the table from French side Amiens, who have tabled a loan-to-buy deal. This would leave just Greg Taylor as the only natural left back at the club after Jonny Hayes left at the beginning of the summer.
Neil Lennon and Nicky Hammond will know that another left back is needed and one name that has been touted is 30-year-old, Barry Douglas. The Leeds United full back is entering the last year on his contract with the newly-promoted Premier League side.
