Celtic are set to lose Rocco Vata to Watford this summer as his contract is up at Parkhead, leaving the club with a compensation fee for his services.
The Republic of Ireland Under-21 international is due for a medical at Vicarage Road today, and his exit is expected to be imminent.
News that he is set to depart won’t come as a major surprise; it was always a possibility in light of a lack of progress regarding talks to extend his stay at Parkhead.
Once it does go through, barring any hitches, there is another youngster Celtic cannot afford to let slip through their grasp.
Celtic and the Daniel Kelly contract situation
Daniel Kelly is another popular youngster that Celtic run the risk of losing unless they can agree an extension to his contract, which expires in December 2024.
Intriguingly, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur are mooted to be among the clubs monitoring the Scotland Under-19 international, and the offer on the table that he has at Parkhead is worth three to four times less than apparent proposals south of the border that could see him pick up £9,000 per week.
Coverage of his situation has gone quiet in recent weeks, so it is important to point out that matters may have moved on a bit behind closed doors. Either way, he is someone Celtic should be looking to tie up on improved terms.
Movement is expected in both directions this summer, with the midfield an area where change could occur. Matt O’Riley is on the radar at Southampton; meanwhile, no agreement has yet been found to bring Paulo Bernardo back to Parkhead from Benfica.
Fair enough, some would argue that Kelly has only experienced limited minutes. On the flip side, he looked accomplished when he came into the senior side, even scoring his first goal for the club in a 7-1 romp over Dundee in late February.
Crucially, he is a homegrown product, something Celtic don’t have much of coming through from Lennoxtown. In European competition, he could occupy an Academy-Trained player slot, giving the Hoops leeway to keep other openings available for new arrivals.
Whether they can secure his future or not is another question, but it should be a priority for chiefs moving forward.
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