Preston North End look to have missed out on Alfie Devine.
That’s after the Celtic target posted an update on his pre-season training in the absence of a permanent agreement.
Contracted to Tottenham, Devine had an excellent season on loan at Deepdale last season, leading to the club activating their option to buy the midfielder.
After weeks of talks, however, the option has now expired, opening the door to a move elsewhere.
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Alfie Devine could now sign for Celtic after leaving Preston hanging
In an Instagram story post on Wednesday — the day of the expiry of Preston’s option to buy — Devine showed himself training with mates in Guernsey.
One of the pair in the picture is Guernsey-born Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott, widely linked with an £80 million exit this summer.
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It’s fair to say that the saga has drawn strong reactions from Preston fans – and many now expect him to move to Celtic.
One fan wrote on X: “I think we should stop wanting Alfie Devine as I believe he will end up at Celtic. I think he will pick money over game time.
Another wrote: “[We] missed the deadline to buy him and the agent used the club’s interest to pawn him off to Celtic.”
Talk of the Hoops’ interest in Devine first emerged when Martin O’Neill and Mark Fotheringham attended Preston’s clash with QPR earlier this year.
It later emerged that the 21-year-old midfielder was on the club’s shortlist, with journo Alan Nixon reporting that this week that Devine’s agents have strong links to Celtic.
The PNE support’s clamour for him to stay should tell you everything about just how highly-rated he is.
🤦♂️ Still no sign of an agreement for either of these two Celtic favourites to stay…
The season ended on May 23rd 🗓️
Alfie Devine to Celtic talk is getting stronger
Among the clients of Devine’s agents are Shaun Maloney, Kyogo Furuhashi and Luis Palma — their partnership with the club flourished during the tenure of Ange Postecoglou, of whom they played a part in the appointment.
Preston’s option to buy Devine was worth £4.5 million rising to £6 million, but a new price will now need to be negotiated with Spurs.
With a host of midfielders expected to leave Parkhead this summer, the 21-year-old’s versatile profile could make an investment worthwhile.
He has proven a success story of the club’s policy of loaning players out, excelling in spells at Leyton Orient and KVC Westerlo prior to his time at Deepdale.
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