It is no secret that Celtic will be looking to sign a few players in the upcoming summer transfer window as they look to rebuild the squad and get back to challenging for trophies as soon as possible, after going through a trophyless season.
One of the positions in most immediate need of reinforcements is centre-back. The Hoops have disappointed at the back throughout the course of the season and could be further weakened there over the course of the next few months.
Kristoffer Ajer is being linked with a move away from Parkhead with just a year left on his contract at the end of this season. Shane Duffy’s loan spell will also come to an end. And Christopher Jullien is expected to miss the start of next season through injury.
One defender they have been linked with for almost a year now is Ben Davies. And in January, it had looked like they were closing in on a pre-contract agreement but Liverpool swooped in at the last moment to take him to Anfield. He has not played a single minute of football since then though and could very well be available this summer.
Liverpool move hands Celtic a transfer boost
As Fabrizio Romano tweeted out, Liverpool are getting close to completing a deal for Ibrahima Konate:
Ibrahima Konaté to Liverpool, here we go soon! The deal is set to be completed, personal terms agreed on a five-years contract.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) April 23, 2021
Liverpool will pay the release clause to RB Leipzig in the next days [around €35m] in order to finalize the signing of Konaté. 🔴 #LFC https://t.co/N4OWqqXiGu
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Of course, this means that Davies will fall further down the pecking order in the upcoming season. And after not making an appearance for Jurgen Klopp’s side with the likes of Virgil van Dijk, Joel Matip and Joe Gomez out with injuries, it looks unlikely that he will get too many minutes when they are back.
As a result, it would not be surprising if Liverpool are open to letting the former Preston North End defender leave in the upcoming summer transfer window.
At the time of the transfer, it had felt like it was an emergency move on the part of the Premier League giants who had seen one defender after the other go down with injury this season and it still feels like that was the case.
Of course, Celtic won’t be able to sign Davies on a free transfer this summer but signing him for anywhere near the £1.6 million are believed to have Liverpool shelled out for him in the winter transfer window, should be considered as a shrewd move.