Report: Celtic ready to move for Declan Gallagher; player keen despite eight-club interest

By David Walton

March 21, 2021

Celtic are ready to make their move for Motherwell centre-back Declan Gallagher after showing an interest, according to TEAMtalk.

The website believes that as many as eight clubs are interested in the Scotland international. However, given his previous connection to the Parkhead club after coming through their youth academy, the player is said to be keen.

TEAMtalk report that Hearts, Aberdeen, and Dundee are in the race. Championship sides Cardiff City and Barnsley are also linked. The website previously reported that West Brom, Burnley, and Sheffield United were other potential suitors.

There appears to be some confusion over Gallagher’s current contract however. Whilst the source believes that his deal expires in the summer, it has been said elsewhere that the centre-back has already triggered a clause in his deal for an extra year [Glasgow Live].

TEAMtalk states that, despite Celtic having a new manager in place, they don’t want to miss out on any summer deals and thus are remaining active in the transfer market.

Celtic may want Declan Gallagher, but will new manager feel the same?

It wouldn’t surprise you if Celtic’s current recruitment team were keen on Gallagher. He’s been a stalwart for Motherwell this season and has even impressed at international level.

He shone in particular for Steve Clarke’s side in the Euro 2020 qualifiers. Bossing it against the likes of Israel and Serbia has led to Gallagher looking a shoo-in to make Scotland’s Euro squad this summer. His performances on the internationaal stage has led to his stock rising.

There is some justification for Celtic continuing to do deals also. With no new manager in the door as of yet, they may want to sign players who fit in line with how the club wants to operate for the foreseeable future. They may see potentially cheap deals that they think will be too good to pass them by before a new manager comes in.

Motherwell centre-back Declan Gallagher (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

New Celtic manager may not want Gallagher

But you then have the immediate issue of whether any new appointment wants that player. The chances are, if Celtic go out and appoint an Eddie Howe or Jesse Marsch, are they signing Declan Gallagher as their first acquisition? Chances are that wouldn’t be the case.

Any new manager worth his salt will have an idea of what he wants to bring to the club. He may not have his full list of targets. However, he’ll have players he already likes that will fit in with the club’s transfer budget. It’s the new boss who needs to sign the players, not the club itself.

The signing of Liam Shaw is different considering that’s a deal with a view to his long-term potential. But Gallagher is 30. He would be signed with a view to making an impact next season. That, regardless of how good a deal it may be, should be something for the new regime to decide.

In other news, why Celtic should be extremely confident for next season after back-to-back derby dominance.