Sources: Martin O’Neill pushes Celtic to submit Alfie Devine offer

Martin O’Neill remains hugely keen for Celtic to sign Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Alfie Devine this summer, sources have told Football Insider.

The 21-year-old is a long-term target for the Bhoys, and O’Neill and his coaching staff watched him first hand on several occasions throughout last season. 

Devine only has one year left on his contract at Tottenham, but Championship side Southampton have now joined the race for his signature this summer. 

Sources have indicated that O’Neill is pushing for Celtic to firm up their interest in Devine with a formal offer, and is currently waiting for the green light from the club hierarchy.

The 74-year-old boss is keen to persuade the starlet that Parkhead is the perfect place for him to continue his development. 

Devine notched eight goals and six assists in the Championship with Preston last term, and they have since seen their option to buy him permanently expire after his loan spell. 

Why Alfie Devine ‘ticks a lot of boxes’ for Martin O’Neill

Celtic want to bring in high-quality midfield reinforcements this summer, with huge uncertainty surrounding the long-term futures of both Arne Engels and Benjamin Nygren. 

Both stars could be heading for the Premier League in the coming weeks, and O’Neill is desperate to ensure that his group remains strong in the middle of the park. 

Devine has been identified as a young player who is a perfect fit for the Hoops’ current project, given the progress that he has already made in the early stages of his career. 

The Tottenham starlet “ticks a lot of boxes” for O’Neill due to his age and his huge room for growth as a player. 

Celtic are hopeful that they could be able to develop him into a truly top-class player in the future, but are facing heavy competition for his services from elsewhere. 

Devine has been unable to break into Tottenham’s first team in recent years, and with one year on his contract, he is now at a pivotal stage of his young career.

What will it take for Tottenham to sell Devine?

Football Insider revealed last weekend that Tottenham remain open to selling Devine this summer, even after Preston opted against triggering their purchase clause. 

The North London outfit are prepared to accept a bid in the region of £4-£6million for their academy graduate, as it is likely to be their final chance to cash in on him. 

Devine is still seen as a huge talent for the future by the Lilywhites, but their recent moves for Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonalip have blocked the midfield pathway for their younger stars. 

Celtic could now be set to benefit from that in the coming weeks, provided that they let O’Neill get his way.