SHANE IS AT PEAK OF HIS POWERS
IRISH BOSS BACKS NEW BHOY BACK PAGE
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND boss Stephen Kenny reckons Celtic are getting Shane Duffy at the peak of his career. The Brighton defender is set to sign a one-year loan deal with the champions. Duffy, left, will be on the Irish team flight to Sofia this afternoon as Kenny’s squad head out for Thursday’s Nations League clash against Bulgaria.
The 28-year-old’s short-term deal could even be agreed before the international team’s departure with Parkhead chiefs
FROM BACK PAGE set to win the battle over West Ham and West Brom for his services.
And Kenny – who will have Duffy at his disposal for the Bulgaria match and Sunday’s game in Dublin against Finland – says the centre-back will be heading to Glasgow in the prime of his footballing life.
The Irish manager said: “I think it’s important for Shane. He is desperate to play. He is at the peak of his career.
“He has been a very strong personality for Ireland and for Brighton over the last few years.
“I’m sure a lot of managers would like to have Shane and, the type of player that he is, he needs to be playing. He knows that.
“Whoever gets him will get a really competitive centre-half who is tremendous in both boxes.
“He would be a real addition to whoever signs him.”
Celtic are poised to be that club – despite Brighton demanding a hefty loan fee and that Parkhead chiefs also stump up a large percentage of his salary for the campaign.
Brighton boss Graham Potter is reluctantly letting Duffy go.
He said: “You understand the speculation with Shane because he is an important player, he is a big character and he wants to play football.
“You put two and two together and it’s an obvious one.
“But Shane has been fantastic for me and he has been great in the group.
“I understand he wants to play and we need to make those decisions at the right time for him and for the team.
“At this moment he is with us, he does his best every day and he is part of your group.”
Duffy’s signing would make him the fifth capture for the Hoops since the end of last term after £5million was paid each for goalkeeper Vasilis Barkas and for striker Albian Ajeti.
Southampton’s Mohamed Elyounoussi rejoined on a second loan deal, while David Turnbull was secured for £3m from Motherwell.
And Duffy may not be the final signing of the transfer window for Celtic.
Manager Neil Lennon admitted at the weekend that there may be “one or two” new faces in the door before the club’s next game against Ross County in Dingwall a week on Saturday.