Josh Doig urged not to leave Hibernian for Celtic this summer

By David Walton

June 29, 2021

Josh Doig has been urged to snub any immediate departure from Hibernian this summer by teammate Lewis Stevenson.

Doig was linked with the likes of Celtic, Arsenal, and Chelsea back in January [Sky Sports]. In more recent times, however, Watford have reportedly seen a £2.5m bid rejected for his services by the Easter Road club [Scottish Sun].

It’s starting to look as though a departure from Leith is inevitable in the coming weeks. Celtic have yet to be reported as having made an offer for the left-back.

But Stevenson has tried to say his piece as the Hibs veteran urged Doig to remain put in Edinburgh and get more first-team games under his belt.

As quoted by Edinburgh Live, Stevenson said: “The sky’s the limit for Josh –he’s got loads of great attributes. He’s only 19 and played a lot of games last season at a high level, which is magnificent. He still has things to learn, though, and Hibs is a good place to do that.

“He’s still not played in front of fans, remember, and experienced what that’s like, so hopefully we can hold on to him for a bit longer.

“Staying on to play more games would help him in the long term. But I can see why people want to move when their stock is high because you never know what’s round the corner in football. Hopefully he’ll be with us, build on last year and help us have another successful season.”

Josh Doig to Celtic looks great on paper, but first-team games is all that matters for Hibernian starlet

If Josh Doig moves to Celtic from Hibernian this summer, it would be one big leap. There’s no guarantee he would be a first-team regular, and it could be the case that senior minutes dry up.

Doig ended the campaign as the SFWA Young Footballer of the Year. However, he’s only played 36 times for Hibs after breaking through this season [Transfermarkt]. It’s absolutely essential that he builds on that next season.

I want Celtic to sign up the best young talent in Scotland as much as anyone. But if we’re allowing as much as £4million to leave the club in order to bring in a player that will be loaned back, it would be a no-go.

Josh Doig on the move? / (Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)

Perhaps it would be worth it from a Celtic perspective to do that deal so long as we can drive the price down. But it would then require us to go out and buy an upgrade elsewhere this summer.

Doig to Celtic would be a fan-pleaser for sure. The player will also surely be intrigued by any offer from Parkhead. But Stevenson does strike some good points. He hasn’t played regularly in front of crowds yet and has European football ahead of him this season.

If Celtic do decide to make their move, we should see what we can do to drive the price down. Loaning him back to Hibs would be a fine idea, but only at the right price.

In other news, a Bayern Munich youngster has explained why he had to leave Celtic in 2019.