Keane realises boyhood dream with Celtic switch
Keane, whose cumulative fees total close to £70million (€80m) after previous big-money moves to Inter Milan, Leeds and Liverpool, tied up terms on a temporary agreement four hours before the Scottish deadline at midnight.
Keane, one of a number of Irish players on the move yesterday, had fallen behind Jermain Defoe and Peter Crouch in the pecking order at White Hart Lane and the recent arrival of former Chelsea and Barcelona striker Eidur Gudjohnsen increased pressure for places.
Deadline day last year saw Keane return to Spurs from Liverpool after an unhappy six-month spell and history repeated itself last night.
Manager Harry Redknapp admitted the 29-year-old wanted regular football, although he stressed Keane had not played his last game for Spurs.
“It has been difficult for Robbie because he has not been starting regularly and he is not a happy lad when he is not,” he said.
“If he is not going to play he is better off going somewhere he will.
“To go to Celtic is a dream come true for him anyway. I think it’s a move that appeals to him.
“He’s a big Celtic man and he’d like to go up to Celtic and play like Roy Keane did.
“The Irish lads, it’s in their blood and they dream of playing for Celtic one day.
“This opportunity is one they want to take and we don’t want to stand in his way, because we’re strong in that position
“But he has definitely not played his last game for Tottenham.”
Meanwhile Brian Horton hopes Keane’s Republic of Ireland team-mate Stephen Hunt can inspire his side to Premier League safety after the Tigers rejected a deadline day bid of £5m (€5.7m) from relegation rivals Wolves.
Hull’s financial concerns meant they had been hoping to trim the size of their first-team squad as well as reducing their wage bill in the January window, but despite the sizeable fee on offer, the Ireland star was considered too important to sell to their fellow strugglers.
Hunt scored against Wolves in the teams’ 2-2 draw at the weekend and assistant manager Horton now hopes he can continue his good form as they look to move out of the bottom three.
“The club received a verbal offer of £5m for Stephen Hunt. This has been completely rejected,” he said.
“Unless it’s an offer you feel is one you completely have to take, no manager wants to sell his best players so that is the end of the story with Stephen Hunt.’’
Elsewhere Republic of Ireland striker Leon Best was also on the move yesterday, leaving Coventry to join Chris Hughton’s Newcastle for an undisclosed fee.
The striker, 23, arrived at Newcastle’s training ground yesterday morning where he agreed terms and completed a medical before penning a three-and-a-half year deal.
Sunderland forward Daryl Murphy also has new employers. He has joined Coca-Cola Championship side Ipswich on loan until the end of the season.
The 26-year-old, who has nine Ireland caps, will join former Black Cats manager Roy Keane at Ipswich, who are battling against relegation to English football’s third tier.
Murphy played 27 times for Sunderland last year but has slipped down the pecking order at the Stadium of Light.
Elsewhere Leicester have completed the loan signing of defender Alex Bruce from Ipswich, St Mirren have signed Celtic midfielder Graham Carey on loan until the summer, while Barnet’s former Cork City striker John O’Flynn has rejected a £100,000 (€114,000) move to the Bees fellow League Two outfit Shrewsbury Town.
