Journalist Alison McConnell has recently delivered her verdict on Celtic’s chase of Brighton and Hove Albion defender, Shane Duffy.
McConnell was a guest on the latest episode of PLZ Soccer’s The Football Show and the panel discussed many issues surrounding Scottish football.
One of the topics they discussed Shane Duffy, and Celtic’s reported interest in the Republic of Ireland defender. McConnell shed some light on the club’s interest in the player, and stated that she believes the defender would be an ‘excellent’ signing for the Hoops, despite the Premier League club asking for a ‘hefty’ £2million fee to loan out the centre-back this summer.
The journalist said: “It is a hefty loan fee, but I actually think he’d be an excellent addition. Celtic are crying out for a player like that, with that level of physicality, who could slot in. He has experience to go straight in. I also think in a broader sense, he would facilitate a return to that 3-5-2 system that played out so well from January on.
“He looks like a good fit for Celtic. I know there will be other options, but for me, he’d be an ideal signing for them, whether that is a loan deal or otherwise.”
Should Celtic pay the loan fee for Duffy?
Absolutely!
No, that is too much
According to reports, the defender has already held talks with Neil Lennon about potentially joining Celtic on a one-year loan deal. It is said that the 28-year-old is ‘keen’ to play in the Scottish Premiership for a single season (as per the Daily Mail).
TIF Thoughts…
Duffy wasn’t exactly a regular for the Seagulls in the 2019/20 season as he could make only 19 Premier League appearances and he didn’t make a single start for them in the last five games of the campaign (as per Transfermarkt).
He played a lot more in the 2018/19 season and earned a Whoscored rating of 7.11 in the campaign. That could be a sign of the fact that if he plays regularly, Duffy can an important player.
So, if Celtic use him more often than Brighton did in the 2019/20 season, the 28-year-old may prove to be worth the £2million fee.