According to a recent report by the Daily Record, Premiership outfit Celtic are said to be looking at the possibility of signing Brighton and Hove Albion defender Shane Duffy on loan this summer, as Neil Lennon looks to add defensive reinforcements to his title-challenging roster.
The report suggests that the Hoops are joined in the race for Duffy by Premier League giants West Ham United, who are also chasing the Irish centre-half as a target for next season. The defender himself though is said to have a flurry of possible destinations to choose from, with Brighton pretty much decided of moving him on from the club this summer.
Although the report has clarified that Celtic are interested in a loan move for Brighton’s Shane Duffy, whether or not they’re able to beat out the Hammers to his signature remains to be seen. If a loan deal does actually take shape, then it has been suggested in the report that the Celts would have to spend about £2m in the form of his annual wages. West Ham United, on the other hand, are reportedly willing to pay the full £5m transfer fee to sign him permanently. Having worked with David Moyes in the past as well, a switch to London could be an attractive prospect for the Brighton man.
What Makes Duffy A Good Option At The Back?
It wasn’t all that long ago that Shane Duffy was considered the best defender at Brighton and Hove Albion. Still, within the space of just a few months, the Irishman has fallen down the pecking order at an almost unbelievable pace. Lewis Dunk, Dan Burn and Adam Webster have all been used ahead of him, and this is perhaps what has urged the defender to find a move away. At Celtic, the Hoops would be able to offer the centre-half regular playing time, especially considering the number of competitions they are involved in and the rate at which the fixtures have been coming.
With the promise of winning trophies on the horizon as well, a move to Parkhead wouldn’t be the worst idea for Duffy by any stretch of the imagination. The Brighton man is among the tallest defenders in the entirety of the Premier League, and his physical prowess will be exponentially more influential in the world of Premiership football. Still only 28-years-old, Neil Lennon would be able to depend on him to deliver the goods on a regular basis as well. With 33 international caps to his name too, the centre-half has even captained the Ireland national side on various occasions.
The defender has been in and around the Premier League picture for a while now, and he would certainly offer a more assured presence at the back than their two current options. Although Jullien and Ajer haven’t done all that bad since the start of the new season, it must be conceded that their fragile nature could result in a defensive collapse right in the middle of any given fixture. In Duffy, they would be acquiring a player with over 300 career appearances, and a defender who has featured in around about 100 Premier League clashes, scoring six goals in the process as well.
Celtic Are Interested In Loan Move For Brighton’s Shane Duffy: Smart Piece Of Business?
The Celts are going into what could well be the most important season in their long-standing history. A tenth straight league title isn’t something that has been achieved in the Scottish game so far, and their Old Firm rivals Rangers are sure to try every trick in the book to try and stop them from securing it. Whether or not Steven Gerrard’s side can maintain the champions’ pace could determine how the season turns out, but signing a talented defender like Duffy would likely make the job that little bit easier for Lennon.
