Oostende are reported to have opened talks with Jack Hendry over a permanent move from Celtic.
With reports of interest from English clubs it looks like an easy deal to strike to make good on the buy-out option on his loan then instantly sell him on for a healthy profit with the player getting a massive wage hike.
Hendry has been in outstanding form as Oostende shrugged aside their traditional relegation candidates tag to challenge for a European place next season. After 30 matches they are level on points with Anderlecht in fourth place.
In the Daily Record, Scott Burns reports:
KV Oostende have opened talks with recalled Scotland star Jack Hendry over a permanent summer switch. The on-form Celtic defender is currently on-loan with the Belgian shock troops, who are pushing for a Champions League spot.
Hendry, who was recalled to the Scotland team for the first time in three years this week for the World Cup qualifiers against Austria, Israel and Faroe Islands, has been one of the top defenders in Belgium this season and has attracted a flood of interest from top clubs in England, Russia and Germany.
Oostende have a pre-agreed fee with Celtic, as part of their season-long loan agreement, and have first option on the defender. That agreement has to be finalised over the coming weeks and Oostende are looking to take it up.
Whoever negotiated the buy-out clause on the Celtic side has some explaining to do, handing Oostende a win-win option.
If Hendry impressed they got him at a fixed price while if he didn’t live up to their expectations they could return him to Celtic or try and negotiate a lower price.
With the player back in the Scotland squad and attracting interest from England it looks like Oostende can cash in by signing the defender and quickly moving him on. Celtic may have a sell-on clause in the initial deal that they negotiated.
