Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has claimed that the club will look to bring in Damien Duff in the New Year.
The Irishman had a varied career down in England, and has spoken of his desire to join Celtic as a coach.
Fortunately for the former Fulham man, his prayers are about to be answered. Rodgers has stated that the club are in talks with the retired midfielder. The rumours are that Duff will be brought in to be the club’s new Development Coach.
Speaking in the Daily Mail, Rodgers confirmed a deal looks set to be completed soon between the club and Duff.
“Nothing as of yet.
“It will be the beginning of the year.”
Frankk and to the point
Rodgers certainly wasn’t messing about with his comments regarding Duff. The club want him in, but it’s unclear whether this is a decision that’s been made by Rodgers himself.
At face value, however, this is a stunning deal for the club to pull off. In terms of a professional career, Duff has done it all. Spells at Chelsea, Newcastle United, and Fulham reaped over an impressive 300 appearances in the Premier League down south.
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He has plenty of experience at the top level of football, and therefore that can only be benificial for the Celtic youngsters.
In recent years, Celtic’s academy has been lukewarm with talent to say the least. James Forrest, Kieran Tierney, and Callum McGregor are the only regulars to have come through it.
The likes of Jack Aitchison, Karamoko Dembele, and Ewan Henderson are all exciting prospects too. Mikey Johnston, meanwhile, is the main man to have come through this year and is sniffing around the first-team. Anthony Ralston, despite his lack of game-time, also came through the ranks.
It will be interesting to see if Duff can help revive the youngsters’ fortunes in the reserve league. Celtic sit in sixth place, and are therefore five points behind Rangers at the top. Their latest match saw them come from two goals behind to snatch a draw against Hibernian.
If a deal is to be done, however, and it looks like it will, it won’t be until the New Year.