According to a recent report by the Daily Record, Premiership giants Celtic have been tipped to make an improved £400,000 offer in an attempt to acquire the services of Charlton Athletic’s highly-rated midfielder Alfie Doughty. The report suggests that the new bid that the Celts plan to submit will consist of some add-ons on top of the aforementioned transfer fee as well. With the player having just one year left on his current contract, Celtic will reportedly not be held ransom by the English club, in that they are willing to wait until January to discuss a pre-contract agreement with the player directly.
Although the report has clarified that Celtic are to bid an improved £400k for Charlton’s Alfie Doughty, whether or not the Addicks are prepared to let him walk away next summer could define the result. Charlton manager Lee Bowyer has already confirmed that an initial bid had come in from Celtic, but that it was rejected immediately. The issue for Charlton is that Celtic are willing to wait until January to begin talks with the player, in which case they would have to do with minimal compensation. If they’re able to sell him to another English club this summer, it would mean an influx in remuneration.
What Is Celtic’s Current Squad Situation?
The reigning champions haven’t had the smoothest starts to the Premiership this time around, owing largely to the ignorant actions of Boli Bolingoli in the opening weeks of the season. By making an illicit trip to Spain while breaking quarantine rules, the Belgian went on to put not just the squad, but the entire division in a vulnerable situation. With the full-back now an outcast and having got through a couple of postponed matches as well, things have finally begun to improve at Parkhead.
The midfield duo of Callum McGregor and Scott Brown has been pivotal to their attacking play, but the lack of quality alternatives is sure to haunt them at a later point in the season. Both Ryan Christie and Olivier Ntcham have been used in the advanced role, but while the former has done well at times, the latter has failed to capture the fans’ imagination. With names like Tom Rogic and Ismaila Soro watching on from the sidelines, another midfield addition on top of the recently acquired David Turnbull might not be the worst idea.
What Makes Alfie Doughty A Good Option For Celtic?
The Scottish club’s desire to strengthen ahead of the new campaign has been no secret, and midfield has been one of the key areas of focus since the commencement of the transfer window. Doughty is a left-sided midfielder by position but does his best work in the final third of the pitch.
Adept at timing runs into space and finishing off chances in the box, the 20-year-old has been touted to be the next big thing to come out of the Charlton academy. Having featured in 29 Championship appearances last season, the Englishman scored two goals and picked up a further three assists as well.
Celtic Are To Bid An Improved £400k For Charlton’s Alfie Doughty: Smart Move For Lennon?
The Celts are aiming to secure their tenth straight league title this season, and considering the form that Old Firm rivals Rangers are displaying, that isn’t going to be an easy task by any stretch of the imagination. The recent acquisition of David Turnbull was received with massive plaudits, but the purchase of a more direct player like Doughty could go a long way towards helping their cause. With the player’s contract situation favourable to the Scottish champions as well, it might be a good idea for them to sign him up before the window slams shut later this summer.
