Alex Crook says that he has been hearing whispers for several months about Celtic-linked Craig Bellamy potentially leaving Wales.
As doubts remain over whether Martin O’Neill wants to remain in the job beyond this season, one of the men he signed in Glasgow has entered the fray.
Bellamy is contracted until the end of the 2028 European Championship, which will see Wales play at home, but questions have loudened after their penalty shootout exit to Bosnia in the World Cup qualifying play-offs on Thursday.
Insider journo Crook’s update has certainly left the door open for Celtic, though the insider journo also has him in the conversation for Burnley.
He has seriously impressed in charge of Wales…
Craig Bellamy’s future ‘one to watch’ amid Celtic links, Alex Crook says
Crook said on talkSPORT: “Yeah, obviously it’s a home EUROs in 2028, which will come into his thinking.
“But I’ve been hearing whispers for a few months now [that] if Wales didn’t qualify for this World Cup then potentially Bellamy would come into the conversation for Burnley, should they decide to make a change of manager.
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“He was assistant manager, Vincent Kompany’s number two. They wanted to keep him, actually, when Scott Parker came in.
“So I think it’s certainly one to watch, and I guess his decision is: has he taken Wales as far as he can? Because there aren’t any Gareth Bale-style superstars around the corner, are there?”
Not only did the Clarets attempt to keep Bellamy, but Kompany himself also attempted to bring him along to Bayern Munich.
Instead, the ex-striker moved into international management, where he went unbeaten in his first nine games in charge of the Dragons.
His style of management is eerily similar to that of ex-Hoops boss Ange Postecoglou; he has admired the ex-Celtic boss since sharing facilities with him in Melbourne in 2012.
He also played under Bobby Robson, Roberto Mancini and Kenny Dalglish in an eventful playing career which saw him spend a memorable five months on loan at the Hoops under O’Neill.
Robbie Keane remains the reported frontrunner in the eyes of the Parkhead hierarchy.
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