Celtic’s hopes of signing Irish central defender Dara O’Shea this summer are dead in the water, with the 25-year-old set to join English Premier League newboys Ipswich Town.
O’Shea was reported to be a target of the Bhoys throughout the summer, but a move never materialised.
Now, the defender is set to move from Burnley to Ipswich, in a deal that could rise to £15m.
Indeed, Sky Sports journalist Dharmesh Seth reported last night that O’Shea had completed his Ipswich medical, and that a formal announcement will come within 24 hours.
When one hears about the finances involved in O’Shea’s move, understanding why a switch to Glasgow never came to fruition is easy.
The Hoops would have had to break their transfer record and then some to bring the centre-back north of the border. Given the club’s bank balance, it would have been within their capabilities, but it seems a tad unrealistic.
Missing out on O’Shea, though, doesn’t lessen the need to bring in a central defender before the window closes.
Gustaf Lagerbielke’s exit seems inevitable after Brendan Rodgers confirmed he isn’t in his plans this season. Stephen Welsh isn’t dependable fitness-wise and Maik Nawrocki doesn’t seem to have the faith of the manager; bringing in a new centre-back before next Friday would be ideal.
