Celtic midfielder Daniel Kelly appears to be on his way out of the club after declining a new contract offer, a decision that could sees him excluded from the first team’s pre-season plans. The 18-year-old, whose contract expires in January, is now free to discuss terms with other clubs.
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers commented on the situation, stating to SunSport, “There’s no impasse as Daniel, he has been offered a deal which is valued and, with the greatest respect, I have worked with young players and I know the levels of young players and where they’re at from a technical perspective and a financial perspective. Both those boys have been offered deals by the club.”
Kelly’s refusal to sign the proposed deal comes shortly after another Celtic youngster, Rocco Vata, also opted not to renew his contract. This pattern of departures has raised concerns among fans about the club’s ability to retain its emerging talents.
Despite breaking into the first team this year and scoring his first senior goal in a 7-1 thrashing of Dundee, Kelly’s future at Celtic now seems bleak. His limited playtime in the title run-in may have contributed to the midfielder’s decision.
With Kelly’s contract running out in January, the midfielder is now in a position to entertain offers from other clubs.
Rodgers confirmed Kelly’s exclusion: “I spoke with the agents and the player some months back to say, ‘listen, if we can’t tidy this up by the summer, then it’s very hard to be with the team in pre-season’. It’s as simple as that.
The allure of opportunities elsewhere and perhaps more favorable terms could see Kelly follow in Vata’s footsteps, seeking greener pastures beyond Celtic.
