West Ham are willing to pay the £5 million required to sign Brighton’s Shane Duffy on a permanent basis while Celtic are only considering a loan move as things stand, according to the Daily Record.
As two of the biggest clubs on either side of the border go head-to-head for an Ireland international, it seems that West Ham and Celtic are both under the impression that they have an ace up their sleeve.
Hammers boss David Moyes handed Duffy his debut at Everton of course.
After falling out of favour under purist Graham Potter at Brighton, a move to the London Stadium would see Duffy reunite with a manager who knows and trusts him.
“I thought Shane Duffy was our best player, I thought he was excellent,” Moyes once said of a 20-year-old Duffy. “The boy should take a lot of confidence from his performance and he certainly didn’t let anybody down today.
“We’re pleased with the lad. It’s never easy. I think it’s a difficult thing for a young centre-half to play in the Premier League.
Celtic, meanwhile, are hoping that the Derry-born 28-year-old listens to his heart instead.
Duffy is a boyhood Hoops fanatic after all, and the chance to secure a place in Celtic history during this fabled ‘ten in a row’ campaign will never come around again.
This is modern football we are talking about however and finances will play a major role.
As pointed out by the Record, West Ham are more than happy to give Brighton the £5 million they want for the long-serving stopper while Celtic are prioritising a £2 million loan deal instead.
The report adds that the Hammers would likely ‘blow the Hoops out of the water’ when it comes to the wages on offer at the London Stadium.
Will Duffy listen to his heart, his head, or his bank balance?
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