Reports have emerged over the past 24 hours that Celtic are ready to intensify talks to sign Alfie Devine from Tottenham Hotspur. Martin O'Neill is believed to be a fan of the midfielder.
So much so that O'Neill was spotted in attendance watching Preston North End's game last season. Since then, speculation about a move for Devine have not gone away.
Until very recently, Preston North End were in the driver's seat though as they had an option to buy included in the deal. And it had looked like they were intent on trigerring it.
But for one reason or another, it did not end up happening. Now, the option to buy has expired. So, Devine's future is up in the air. Celtic are in the mix to sign him. But what do Tottenham Hotspur want to do?
According to a report from Football Insider, Celtic have been told Tottenham Hotspur will accept offers between £4-6 million for Devine this summer.
That seems like a transfer fee that Celtic are very capable of meeting. And with O'Neill believed to be a fan of Devine, they should do their best to make the deal happen.
To be very honest, that feels like a reasonable figure as well. Devine is a Tottenham Hotspur player.
On top of that, he also proved himself in the Championship last season. Across all competitions, he scored eight goals and provided a further eight assists for Preston North End.
So, it is easy to understand the valuation. And it is not like Celtic have not spent that kind of money on players in the past. The club need to show that they are ready to back O'Neill, even on a one-year deal. Signing Devine would be a statement of intent in that regard.
Midfield is the one area which could be most severely affected for Celtic in this summer transfer window.
Arne Engels has been tipped to make a Scottish record exit. Celtic already turned down an offer in the region of £25 million in the summer. Clubs are still interested this summer.
Benjamin Nygren is also expected to draw interest. And when asked about a potential move, he did not rule it out.
Reo Hatate barely featured towards the end of last season and is expected to depart this summer. It is the same for Paulo Bernardo.
So, Celtic's midfield department could be significantly weakened in the summer. Signing someone like Devine could go a long way in filling any voids which may end up appearing as a result of potential departures. Now, it remains to be seen whether the Hoops are up for it or not.
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