West Ham have joined Derby County and West Brom in the race for Celtic target Bobby Clark.
The newly-relegated Hammers have also been linked with Arne Engels and Callum Osmand in recent weeks.
As we await the announcement that Martin O’Neill is to stay as Celtic’s permanent manager, a major overhaul is expected in the team’s engine room this summer.
Clark, a historical target for the Hoops, is reportedly available at a cut price from RB Salzburg, from whom he has spent this season on loan at Pride Park.
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West Ham join Derby County and West Brom among ‘half a dozen’ clubs interested in Bobby Clark
According to Derbyshire Live, West Ham are among ‘half a dozen’ clubs with an active interest in Clark.
It’s a similar situation to that of another Championship loanee targeted by Celtic, Alfie Devine, though he is now expected to join Preston permanently.
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The midfielder was brought to Austria for £10 million two years ago, reuniting with Pep Lijnders, with whom he had worked at Liverpool.
Lijnders was sacked after just months in Austria, and Clark’s game time decreased, with the minutes he did get often being out of position. He was then sent out on loan for this season.
Out of the blue, reports last October claimed that Celtic had agreed a £6 million deal to sign Clark, but this turned out to be false. It now appears that he is available at a much lower price.
Clark was named Young Player of the Year by the Rams last week, as the club agonisingly missed out on a play-off place on the final day of the season.
He is the son of ex-Newcastle midfielder and Kilmarnock manager Lee Clark, playing in the academy at St James’ Park before being plucked by Liverpool.
As a teenager at Anfield, he was handed 14 senior appearances by Jurgen Klopp, scoring in a European win over Sparta Prague in 2024.
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Midfielders being linked with Celtic
The aforementioned Devine and Clark are two options south of the border, but a host of midfielders appear to be being chased by Celtic.
Benjamin Tahirovic is very much liked by Celtic; Brondby have reportedly now had contact from Celtic regarding his services.
Milan Vitalis Elijah Just and Elliot Watt are all also on the radar.
Celtic have also reignited their interest in Jakob Breum, the Danish midfielder for whom they infamously sent several lowball offers last summer.
Celtic had scouted both Silas Andersen and Issa Doumbia in recent months, but the pair are now on the verge of joining Sporting in Portugal.
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