Celtic’s recruitment team had doubts about signing Brighton and Hove Albion defender Shane Duffy, with the Athletic suggesting there were concerns about whether he would fit into Neil Lennon’s system.
Who can really blame the Ireland international for jumping at the chance to swap the South Coast for the green side of Glasgow over the summer?
Duffy has made no secret of the fact that he is a Bhoyhood, died-in-the-wool Celtic fanatic and, after falling out of favour at Brighton, he was never going to turn down the chance to make a lifelong dream come true.
In hindsight, the fact that Duffy had slipped so dramatically down the pecking order at his parent club was perhaps a warning to Celtic.
Brighton coach Graham Potter prides himself on a progressive, possession-based style of football; one that always appeared at odds with an old-school central defender who thrived under the more pragmatic approach espoused by Chris Hughton.
So it is no real surprise that Duffy has found life difficult at a Celtic side who, like the Seagulls, tend to dominate the ball week in, week out.
According to the Athletic, Celtic’s recruitment team felt that the one-time Everton youngster would struggle to adapt in a team where defenders are expected to start attacks from deep and hold a high defensive line.
The club’s coaching staff were apparently willing to overlook those deficiencies, however. But maybe they should have taken that advice a little more seriously.
Because Duffy, who has cost Celtic around £3.5 million in fees thus far, has been nothing short of a disaster on the right side of Neil Lennon’s back three.
His dismal performance in the 4-1 home defeat to Sparta Prague felt like a rock-bottom moment for a defender whose dream move is quickly turning into a nightmare.
In fact, no team in the entire Europa League has conceded more goals than Celtic this season.
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