The Blackburn Rovers centre-half was linked with a move to Celtic Park earlier this summer.
Should Celtic try to sign Brighton-linked Shane Duffy?
After doing it the hard way, Celtic have managed to just about make it into the Group Stages of the Champions League, and with it comes the mouthwatering prospect of £30 million in cold, hard, cash.
For Brendan Rodgers, the sense of relief will be tangible, having achieved his number one briefing for the campaign before the season has properly got going.
But the former Liverpool boss will be only too aware of the immediate problems facing Celtic, problems most profoundly illustrated by their performance last night in Israel, which almost cost them their place in Europe’s premier competition.
Blackburn’s Shane Duffy
The Bhoys lost to Hapoel Be’er Sheva 2-0, enduring an onslaught from their Israeli counterparts who overwhelmed them defensively.
With injuries limiting his selection options, such as Erik Sviatchenko only being fit enough for the bench whilst Jozo Simunovic remains a long way from a return, Rodgers was forced to put full-back Mikael Lustig in alongside Kolo Toure, as a makeshift centre-half pairing.
Unsurprisingly, Celtic suffered from their absence, and the Israelis pushed Celtic to the brink of the almost unthinkable prospect of losing a three goal advantage and tumbling out of the Champions League.
Injured: Celtic’s Jozo Simunovic
Injuries, coupled with the fact that Celtic have only kept two clean sheets from their opening ten competitive matches, emphasise the club’s need to invest in their defence
And with the Champions League windfall now secure, Brendan Rodgers should get his cheque book out to sign Blackburn Rovers’ Shane Duffy.
The Bhoys were linked with a £2 million move for the Republic of Ireland international by the Daily Mail earlier this summer after some impressive displays at Euro 2016, coming off the back of stand-out campaign with Blackburn.
Brighton are currently thought to be in advanced negotiations for Duffy, with the Mail reporting that the Seagulls have agreed a deal worth £4 million, whilst Wolves too are interested in the former Everton defender, as also written by the Mail.
Shane Duffy had an excellent season last term
Celtic nevertheless now hold the trump card in the transfer market with Champions League football secured, and it would not need much persuading for Duffy to exchange Championship football for competition on the continent.
Blackburn’s dismal start to the new campaign can only aid their cause should they seek to pursue his signing, and with only one year remaining on his current deal with the Blue and Whites, now is the ideal to swoop for the Irishman.
Plus, with money no longer an issue courtesy of last night’s triumph in Israel, the Bhoys should be able to easily compete with the interest currently being shown by Brighton,
Defensive reinforcements should now be Rodgers’ next main target after securing elite European football, and the former Liverpool boss should look no further than Shane Duffy as the ideal starting point to bolster his defence ahead of Celtic’s long awaited European adventure.
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