Celtic are reported to be showing interest in Ben Davies but are likely to face competition from a number of English sides for the defender.
In January Celtic were hoping to complete a pre-contract deal with the Preston defender but a deepening of Liverpool’s defensive crisis brought them to the table with £500,000 securing the transfer.
The so-called Dream Move hasn’t quite worked out, six months later Davies is still waiting to make his competitive debut with Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez returning from injury to push the former Preston man further down the pecking order.
Celtic’s defensive options haven’t really improved since January with Carl Starfelt for Kris Ajer the only change in the squad Ange Postecoglou currently has to work with.
Reviving interest in Davies would seem logical, discussing his current situation and playing down the prospects of a permanent move, the Liverpool Echo reports:
It’s understood, however, that a loan deal is the more realistic option at present. Celtic, who were close to landing Davies in January, remain keen as new coach Ange Postecoglou gets to work on wrestling back the Scottish Premiership from Steven Gerrard’s Rangers.
The then Scottish champions were waiting until the dying embers of the window to try and snaffle Davies on a cut-price deal given he was in the last few months of his Deepdale contract.
Liverpool, however, swooped for what they believed was a more respectful offer at the time and brought Davies in for an initial £500,000 with add-ons taking it to £1.1m.
The Reds are unlikely to have paid anything over that £500,000 sum so far given how the dormant Davies’ career has gone under Jurgen Klopp.
Like Celtic, Burnley were another team keen on Davies at the start of 2021, but PNE were reluctant to sell to a local rival. The Clarets have a well-known policy of buying British and are thought to be keeping tabs on any Davies developments.
After last season’s experiences of loan transfers another loan wouldn’t be ideal for Celtic but towards the end of the transfer window it may carry more appeal.
