Celtic winter transfer target admits he was flattered by interest from elsewhere

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Celtic will now steer the boar forward as they eye up a league-and-cup double following their winter transfer window frustrations.

Nicolas Kuhn and Adam Idah will help with that quest after joining from Rapid Vienna and Norwich City, respectively.

However, this particular mid-season merry-go-round will be remembered just as widely for what activity didn’t occur.

Brendan Rodgers had been keen to add cover at left-back due to Greg Taylor’s recent injury; nonetheless, the Irishman will have to contend with his current options due to the fact nothing arrived in the post.

Brief links to Paris Saint-Germain Layvin Kurzawa and Wolverhampton Wanderers star Hugo Bueno emerged before disappearing into thin air in the hours leading up to the close of play.

At the same time, Estoril’s Tiago Araujo was also mentioned, though the Scottish Premiership holders disagreed with the ‘ballpark’ the Liga Portugal side put to them, which was believed to be around the £4 million mark.

Carrying a similar theme, Liverpool youngster Owen Beck was targeted in a permanent raid before the notion of the Welshman turning up at Parkhead vanished.

Having already spent time on loan at Dundee, Reds boss Jurgen Klopp granted the Wrexham-born man his Premier League debut in a 4-0 victory over Bournemouth in January, leaving the Bhoys with no hope of fielding him due to legislation that states a player can’t turn out for more than two clubs in one campaign.

Owen Beck speaks about transfer interest amid Celtic link

Now back at Dundee, Beck will be keen to build on his impressive spell at Dens Park, where the left-back has registered two goals and three assists in 18 league appearances across 2023/24, per Transfermarkt.

Amid the Hoops’ noted interest in the defender, he has now admitted he was flattered by the attention his consistent form garnered during the month of January.

He stated [Football Scotland]: “People speak about interest from other clubs but I try to focus on the club I’m playing for. That’s not really my job to listen to who is interested in me.

“I was happy at Liverpool, but when the opportunity to come back to Dundee was there, it was a no-brainer. It’s nice if teams are interested in you; it’s a positive thing.

“It’s down to me playing well in the first half of the season. I’m looking to replicate that in the second half. The long-term aim is to try to make it at Liverpool.”

Whether he makes the cut at Liverpool or not will be determined in due time, though Beck is a prodigious talent that Celtic should look to keep an eye on throughout the second portion of this term.

Left-back is an area that needs to be strengthened at Parkhead come the summer, and he could be the ideal candidate to make the position his own long-term.