Connor Humm

Wed 17 March 2021 18:00, UK

Celtic will be “devastated” to see Jack Hendry resold for a profit by KV Oostende this summer, according to Alan Hutton.

The former Scotland defender, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, insisted the defender could still have had a future at Parkhead after an impressive loan spell in Belgium.

As revealed by Football Insider, Celtic are powerless to stop the 25-year-old engineering a move, with Oostende planning to trigger the optional purchase clause in his contract.

It is said the Belgian outfit will pay around £1.75million to make his temporary stay permanent.

However, Football Insider understands he could be sold straight on to an English side for a £5million-plus fee.

Hutton insisted Celtic will be kicking themselves.

“It’s a nightmare when you think about it really,” Hutton told Football Insider assistant editor Russell Edge.

“He was someone frozen out under Lennon but he’s not there any more. Let’s face it, Celtic have had problems defensively all season. So there’s a boy who has went out and played well.

“He could have come back and fitted into that team. Maybe you put a clause in where you definitely want somebody to leave and they can just trigger a buy. It doesn’t really seem ideal, especially for someone so young. 

“Celtic will be disappointed and can you imagine that happens? Your player that’s out on loan signs for £1.5million, they trigger a clause. Then they immediately sell him for £5million to another team? You’d be absolutely devastated.

“Good luck to the boy. He’s been frozen out. However, he got his head down, worked hard and he’s proved to everybody how good he can be. He’s moving on to better things.”

Hendry was frozen out by Neil Lennon at Celtic and was sent on loan to Melbourne before Oostende.

The centre-back has played 23 times to help his loan side push for a top-four finish and a Champions League spot.

In other news, it can be revealed how Lennon went out of his way to help Villa beat Celtic to big-money signing.