Rangers wouldn't sign him - Exclusive: Pundit digs at £2.5m Celtic capture on 'Big' wages
Celtic are hitting red-hot form in midwinter, just ahead of the Old Firm – but fans will be anxious about January transfer activity following the Shane Duffy misstep.
So says Alan Hutton, former Rangers favourite, speaking exclusively to Football Insider correspondent Adam Williams about the struggling centre-back he is certain would not be signed by the transfer market kings at Ibrox.
Celtic made it five wins on the spin with a 3-0 victory over United, but away from the pitch the club is looking notably less competent.
On-loan defender Shane Duffy's career in Scotland has entered a tailspin after starting just one of the club's last seven Scottish Premiership matches – and Celtic's pursuit of a possible stand-in for the Irishman, Mark McKenzie, has failed after he agreed terms with Belgian side Genk.
In light of this, Parkhead fans have a right to be concerned when it comes to the club's transfer dealings, says Hutton.
"You'd worry as a fan because you know you're slipping behind when it comes to the likes of Rangers and what they're doing and who they're bringing in," he told Football Insider.
"As a Celtic fan, you're thinking 'right we need to keep up with them, we need to bring in bodies that can help us match them.'
"You look at the likes of Shane Duffy who came in for a big loan fee, big wages, but it's not worked out.
"Then you realise it's a big window for them. I think there are certain positions where they can strengthen.
"It's a worry, it's always going to be a worry when you've brought in x-amount of players and some of them haven't worked. You have to look at their recruitment side of it."
Duffy signed for Celtic in September, calling it a "special moment" to be joining his boyhood club.
Celtic agreed to pay Brighton £2.5million for the defender’s services on a temporary basis in September, a transfer that was lauded by pundits including the former Scotland and Rangers manager Alex McLeish.