Ben Davies to Celtic latest: Neil Lennon and Alex Neil both discuss potential move, Burnley now keen

By John McGinley

January 31, 2021

A Ben Davies switch to Celtic is still not a guarantee as we enter the final hours of the January transfer window.

Sky Sports reported last week that a pre-contract deal had been agreed for the Preston North End defender but, clearly, that was premature.

Celtic can agree on a pre-contract with Davies at any point from now up until the expiry of his contract this summer.

However, Neil Lennon wants him in the door now and the club have until midnight tomorrow to get it done.

The manager spoke about Davies after yesterday’s home defeat to St Mirren, telling The Daily Record: “Hopefully we can get it tied up before the deadline.

“We’d like it to happen but again, I can’t say for sure whether it’s going to happen or not.

“We’re certainly hoping to get some business done in the next day or two.”

Sounds good right?

Well, it might not be so simple.

Alex Neil has delivered a sobering update of his own this weekend, telling Lancs Live, bluntly: “Yes I fully expect Ben Davies to be here until the end of the season. I think you can see that is he dedicated and I thought that for most of today he was excellent, he’s just a good player.”

That puts everything up in the air entering deadline day.

Celtic want Ben Davies / (Photo by Kevin Barnes – CameraSport via Getty Images)

The matter is complicated further by the reported interest of English Premier League side Burnley, who can likely afford a wage package beyond Celtic’s capability [The Daily Record].

Celtic haven’t exactly been beating opposition sides to transfers recently, so your guess is as good as mine on Davies’ arrival tomorrow.

Still, it seems the club are working on it, so it’s something to look and hope for.

In other news, Olivier Ntcham is on his way out of the club and Celtic fans won’t miss him.