We mentioned last week that despite West Brom being keen to sign Irish international defender Shane Duffy from Brighton, the word back in his hometown of Derry was that the 28 year old was opening talking up a move to Celtic.
Talk in free derry that Shane Duffy is coming?
— Paul the tim (@paulthetim) August 9, 2020
Celtic’s central defence looked somewhat rattled at the weekend when once again struggling when faced with a big and powerful centre forward and a Christopher Jullien howler allowed Kilmarnock to grab an equaliser from the penalty spot after Ryan Christie’s speculative free-kick from distance had given Celtic the lead at Rugby Park.
With Jozo Simunovic having been allowed to leave earlier in the summer with Celtic declining the opportunity to take up the year option on his deal, Neil Lennon has been on the look-out for a replacement and Sunday’s showing will only have increased his determination to bring in a no-nonsense central defender who can handle to rough stuff in the Scottish game.
Shane Duffy, who was an early Celtic target for Brendan Rodgers back in the summer of 2016, certainly fits the bill. Duffy eventually left Blackburn Rovers for Brighton and has made a considerable contribution to keeping them in the Premier League. However he’s fallen down the packing order and is now set to move on with West Brom keen to sign him on a permanent deal while Celtic, Burnley and West Ham are all interested in the Irish international stopper.
Stephen McGowan in the Daily Mail confirmed Celtic’s interest in Duffy, reporting that Celtic are discussing a one year loan deal with the player, full report below.
Celtic join West Ham, West Brom and Burnley in chase to sign Shane Duffy.
https://t.co/pdl4Kbwf9h via @MailSport
— stephen.mcgowan (@mcgowan_stephen) August 12, 2020
Celtic Supporters certainly seem excited by the prospect of signing Duffy, who would bring some steel to the defence and would also be ideal to play alongside Ajer and Jullien in a 3-5-2 formation – allowing Celtic to go with Edouard and Ajeti up front.
Duffy would have been an outstanding signing in 2016 and that still stands four years later. Get it done Celtic!
Shane Duffy would be an excellent signing. Very difficult to achieve but not impossible. What a statement of intent that would be. HH pic.twitter.com/lb1yv7DG7F
— Celtic Gossip (@CelticGossip) August 13, 2020
Celtic join West Ham, West Brom and Burnley in chase to sign Shane Duffy.
https://t.co/pdl4Kbwf9h via @MailSport
— stephen.mcgowan (@mcgowan_stephen) August 12, 2020
Talk is about Shane Duffy, he’s the exact type of defender we need. Would be a cracking signing if we pulled it off.
— Alan Rafferty 🍀 (@AlanRaff81) August 9, 2020
Shane Duffy with the local Celts back home in Derry I believe. He’d be a good acquisition but the wages in England make it unlikely he’d head north even to his boyhood team? pic.twitter.com/zpBe7xAacK
— Lisbon Lion (@tirnaog09) August 13, 2020
ALSO ON THE CELTIC STAR…£5m Ajeti signing today, Toney and new left back targeted as unrepentant Bolingoli loan move planned.
AND READ THIS…Proposal to assist the great grandchildren of Irish Emigrants sent to Taoiseach.
