A West Ham blog posed the question, have Celtic shot themselves in the foot by handing the cash strapped side money for Albian Ajeti that they will now use to entice Shane Duffy to London.
The transfer window can be a funny old game and can work in strange ways.
West Ham have not got the funds of other EPL clubs and have been tightening their belt. Celtic were linked with a loan move for Albian Ajeti at first before the club revealed they had signed the striker on a permanent four-year deal – handing West Ham some well-needed cash.
West Ham and Celtic seem to be the main two competitors for Shane Duffy’s signature and Hammers news believe their club could use their new funds to push that deal through.
Our view:
Celtic are unlikely to try and sign Shane Duffy on a permanent deal. His fee plus wages and age means he’s not a proper fit for the club’s transfer strategy. A loan deal would be the best way forward, that already puts them at a disadvantage. If West Ham really do want the player, they would have found the funds to try and buy him. In today’s EPL landscape, the money being asked for Duffy pales in comparison to the megabuck deals we’ve seen for quite a few players down south.
It’s all down to Brighton and what they see for their defender. Duffy himself would fancy a move to Glasgow but it might not be his choice.
