ALL ABOUT ALFIE
Bowyer tells Addicks kid to stay as Celtic ‘bid’ rejected
CHARLTON boss Lee Bowyer has urged Celtic target Alfie Doughty to stay in London after claiming an opening offer from Parkhead had been turned down.
Neil Lennon is keen on the left-sided 20-year-old, who was scouted by head of football operations Nick Hammond in Saturday’s 3-1 win over Swindon Town.
Doughty is out of contract next summer, meaning he could discuss a cross-border compensation move from January.
Celtic are keen to do a deal in the current window but Bowyer believes Doughty would benefit from staying put.
‘We did turn down an offer from Celtic,’ Bowyer told London News Online. ‘And they were at the game at the weekend, from what I understand. But we’ve not heard anything since.
‘In an ideal world, and this is just me on how I would advise Alfie, it would be for him to sign another deal and do another year — do a full season with us.
‘He only came into the side at a stage later on last season. He did well. He gets himself into great positions but it is his end product that he has to work on.
‘If he stays with us for another season he will improve more, because he has improved lots since he has been with us.
‘I know what agents are like — they want to take them out. They think about what can be earned money-wise and not about the kid’s development — because he needs developing.
‘So I think he should stay, sign and do a full season with us — improve more and then see what is on the table for him.
‘Because if he goes somewhere now, the likelihood is he ain’t really going to play. He isn’t going to benefit from that.’
Meanwhile, Celtic striker Odsonne Edouard last night scored once again for France Under-21s after starting their Euro qualifier against Azerbaijan.
The forward, who has been linked with a number of top English clubs, hasn’t featured in Celtic’s last two matches.
However, after netting a penalty against Georgia last time out, he was again on the scoresheet last night in Baku as the French ran out 2-1 winners.