Celtic bid for stake in Shamrock Rovers

CELTIC are understood to be in talks about acquiring an interest in Shamrock Rovers. If negotiations are successful, the deal would see the Scottish champions become substantial shareholders in the Tallaght-based club. Celtic’s major shareholder, Irish billionaire businessman and financier Dermot Desmond (right), is reputed to be behind the ground-breaking move which could see the Parkhead outfit form a strategic alliance with their Dublin counterparts. In return for their investment, Celtic would expect to have first call on rising Rovers stars through the club’s academy in Roadstone, while young Celtic players could gain first-team experience with Rovers in the League of Ireland. The clubs already enjoy close links and Celtic have visited Tallaght Stadium for a friendly for the last two summers. Brendan Rodgers and Shamrock Rovers manager Stephen Bradley are also said to have a high regard for each other. In a statement to Sportsmail, Celtic acknowledged their ‘close relationship’ with Rovers. The Parkhead club, who have supplied 30 players to the Republic of Ireland over the years, are eager to strengthen their historic links to the Emerald Isle. In the early days of the Desmond era, there were a cluster of young Irish players at Celtic Park, such as Liam Miller, Colin Healy, Jim Goodwin and Michael Doyle. Talks are due to continue between the two clubs this month when Ray Wilson, who is the major shareholder at Shamrock Rovers, returns from Australia. Multi-club ownership has become increasingly popular in football in recent years. The City Football Group are a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi United Group, which owns the trio of Manchester City, New York City and Melbourne City, while energy drinks giant Red Bull owns Red Bull Salzburg, New York Red Bulls and RB Leipzig.

CELTIC have had their opening bid for Vakoun Issouf Bayo thrown out by the striker’s Slovakian club. In search of competition for Odsonne Edouard and Leigh Griffiths up front, the Scottish champions are believed to have tabled an offer of £1.75million for 21-year-old Bayo. But Dunajska Streda have told the Parkhead outfit that they want around £2.3m for their star player. ‘We confirm that we have received a bid from Celtic but refused the bid as it did not match our expectations,’ said the club’s sporting director Jan Van Daele. ‘We are in direct contact with Celtic club officials and we are open to negotiate with Celtic.’ Born in the Ivory Coast, the player started his