Celtic transfer target Alfie Doughty is a player with a ‘huge future’ in the game, his former manager Leigh Dynan has told The Daily Record on Monday.
As we discussed over the weekend, the Scottish champions have made contact with Charlton about signing the left-sided wide man, with Head of Football Operations Nick Hammond in attendance to scout him recently.
His profile looks to fit the full-back, midfielder, winger hybrid we’re looking for on the left flank if Neil Lennon is going to pursue a 3-5-2 formation.
The youngster has experience of playing in defensive and attacking positions.
Dynan signed Doughty on loan in 2018, giving him his first taste of senior football at Kingstonians.
He reckons the player is a diamond just waiting to be polished.
As quoted by The Daily Record, Dynan said: “Alfie is a tremendous footballer and a top lad. He has a big future. His athleticism caught the eye straight away. He has an eye for goal even playing down the left flank and has a great engine.
“He was a good size then and I’m sure he’ll have bulked up a bit more now too. He had a determination and enough about him at that age to make sure he wouldn’t be pushed around.
“You could see his quality – it stood out a mile. You look at him and think he’s not that quick but he is deceivingly quick and has a great delivery. The balls he puts in in the final third are a real asset.
“Wing back or a full-back that bombs on – he can do both. He likes to play on the outside rather than coming inside and he can beat a player with the pace and quality he has.”
In the context of Celtic that sounds very promising indeed.
Even if Lennon doesn’t make a bold change in tactics or formation, he badly needs competition for Greg Taylor after the debacle involving Boli Bolingoli.
Doughty could solve that problem on a budget.
Reports indicate he is valued at £750,000, with less than a year left on his current contract (Scottish Sun).
If Hammond was impressed by his weekend performance, this one could develop quite quickly.
In other news, Stuart Armstrong has lauded the player who replaced him in the Celtic team following his Premier League exit.
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