Any hopes Celtic might have harboured of bringing Robbie Brady to Parkhead on a free transfer this summer have been extinguished.
Burnley have announced, via their official website, that the Republic of Ireland international has seen the one-year extension clause in his contract activated. Brady, it seems, ‘remains a key component of Sean Dyche’s plans’ – their words, not ours.
A £13 million set-piece specialist who joined Burnley from Hull City three years ago, a move to Celtic surely would have been rather tempting for a Dublin-born ace with 46 international caps under his belt (TEAMtalk).
After all, The Hoops are just one year away now from #10inarow after a ninth straight Scottish Premiership title was bequeathed to them earlier this week – deservedly, we might add.
Qualification for the Champions League is also potentially just a few games away.
And it is fair to say Burnley are unlikely to be enjoying any more forays on continental soil any time soon, with that brief flirtation with the Europa League in 2018 very much an outlier in the history of a modest, Lancashire-based outfit.
Brady has fallen down the pecking order somewhat at the Clarets, not helped of course by an unfortunate spell with injuries. But that is not to say the one-time Manchester United youngster won’t have a big role to play going forward at Turf Moor.
Even the most claret-tinted members of the Burney fan base will know, in their heart of hearts, that Dwight McNeil is probably set for bigger and arguably better things. The Clarets starlet is already allegedly catching the eye of clubs like Manchester United, Everton and Crystal Palace (The Mail).
With his wand of a left-foot and a penchant for pinpoint deliveries, Brady could offset the departure of McNeil – if he stays fit of course.
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