Long term Celtic target Will Ferry has been speaking about his future after ruling out signing a new Dundee United contract for now. The Bhoys were linked with a move for the left-back during the summer window, and that wasn't the first time they were linked.
As it turns out, the Hoops could have done with Ferry, or indeed any senior left-back, ultimately deciding not to sign a senior back-up for injury-prone Kieran Tierney, which already looks like a bad idea.
Tierney is dealing with his second injury of the season, and the only back-up Celtic signed was 18-year-old Chelsea starlet Landon Emenalo, who is as much a midfielder as a full-back. Emenalo arrived at the club injured, so he hasn't been able to play up to now, and he wasn't even included in the European squad, suggesting there isn't a great deal of confidence he will be played regularly.
Centre-back Liam Scales is actually the only senior cover for Tierney, and he offers little going forward, which doesn't really suit O'Neill's system.
Ferry might have been a wise addition, likely available for cheap ahead of the final year of his deal, but the defender stayed put, and he is now on track to be available for free next summer, refusing to sign a new deal for now.
“Do I see myself moving on at the end of the season? Not necessarily," he told SunSport. "Right now, it’s not something we’re talking about. Nothing is ongoing. Whether something does start, we’ll see. But I’m not committing my future in September.”
He added: “It’s been carnage for everyone involved, I think. I was counting down the days to the end of the window, to be honest. I just wanted it done because I was fed up.
“I wasn’t dreading the phone ringing because you never know what could come in. It could be a life-changing opportunity, something you can’t turn down. It was just the constant questions being asked.
“I deleted all my social media so I wasn’t seeing things, but if an article went out, my mum would be on asking me if this team is interested.”
Celtic may well be regretting their decision to not add Ferry, but they may well have another opportunity come next summer, although as things stand, clubs outside Scotland will have the advantage, able to agree a pre-contract agreement with the full-back from January 1, provided he does not sign a new deal before then.
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