Celtic’s negotiations with their promising young midfielder Daniel Kelly hit a snag after the 18-year-old rejected the club’s initial contract extension proposal. [Anthony Joseph]
Despite this setback, talks remain ongoing as both parties express a keen interest in reaching a mutually beneficial agreement.
Kelly, who has recently made a name for himself in Celtic’s first team, turned down the offer as he weighs his future options. His current contract is set to expire on December 31, with the window for pre-contract discussions with other clubs opening in July. Celtic is reportedly keen on securing Kelly’s services for an additional four years, hoping to fend off potential suitors by locking down their emerging talent.
Having broken into the first team this year, Kelly made headlines with his first senior goal during Celtic’s impressive 7-1 victory over Dundee earlier this season. However, his appearances have been limited in the past two months as the team focuses on clinching the title.
The club is eager to retain its young star, especially as he shows potential to become a key player down the line. Meanwhile, Kelly faces the critical decision of committing to Celtic or exploring other opportunities that may arise as his contract nears its end.
Both Kelly and Celtic are hopeful for a resolution that will see the young midfielder continue his development at a club that has already provided him with a platform to shine in his early career. It would be a very bad look for Celtic to lose another top young talent.
Hopefully this issue gets resolved as would class it as the board not backing the manager in looking at what he is trying to create within the structure of the playing side of the club imo?
Think it’s been overlooked for way to long regarding just how much impact the 8 homegrown rule has within trying to structure a squad imo?
We already know Rodgers is trying to structure a 25man squad, with a requirement for 8 homegrown players to accommodate CL football.
So 8 is nearly a third of what an overall squad is aiming to be, especially with increasing CL matches next season.
So rotation and covering injuries is going to become far more important to ourselves imo?
As good as a job Ange done for ourselves, he still wasn’t to interested in addressing the issue?
Only looking towards calmac, Taylor and ralston as such, and dismissing Welsh, forrest and Turnbull somewhat in playing time. And only turning towards Mccarthy and Bain as making up numbers but wouldn’t be wanting to have to use them either?
Will give Rodgers credit for actually trying to address an issue that’s been overlooked for way too long within the club imo?
Already Welsh and forrest have been drafted back into the squad, along with calmac, Taylor and ralston.
So potentially 5 homegrown rule players already in line for getting there place within the 25man squad for next season imo?
Believe lawal will become another addition added, with potentially covering a CB and holding midfield position imo?
Would like to think that this money issue gets resolved with Kelly to potentially take a midfield position in possibly the 7 that could be required next season imo?
So could we be looking at a choice between Mikey Johnston and vata for taking that last potential position within the squad and the 8 homegrown rule?
Bain is another option, if he’s to be kept in the no2 keeper role?
Personal preference would be for lawal, Kelly and vata to be actually kept and included within the 25man man squad next season, to keep the balance right within the overall squad imo?
The gap between the quality of 1st and 2nd choice player’s has to be reduced in so many positions still, and yet believe a pathway has to be developed for the younger players to show there worth to our overall squad over the course of a full season?
Think these are potentially the plans of Rodgers upon the bigger picture, so a requirement for Kelly needs to be sorted out imo?
The money is available to make it possible, so don’t actually understand why money could remain as a potential issue for getting the overall playing squad correct?
If anything is to be learnt from our inconsistent season to date is the requirement for getting the balance of the overall squad correct, so they can develop better as a complete squad than what has been on show for large chunks of this season imo?
Kelly shown enough already to be certainly included within future plans for the playing side of the club, even if his playing time could be fairly limited, but still have to be prepared for the unforseen also imo?