Scott McKenna’s relegation release clause at Las Palmas

Celtic have been linked with several players already this season but other than at left back there has been relatively few central defenders linked with Celtic, other than a possible return to the club for Norwegian International Kristoffer Ajer.

That may change given Las Palmas relegation from La Liga has them looking to offload up to 50% of their squad over the summer. One of those expected to leave Las Palmas is Scottish international Scott McKenna, whom Celtic were heavily rumoured to have been trying to sign last summer following the defender’s exit from EPL side Nottingham Forest.

On the back of rumours McKenna’s wage demands were too high, the left footed central defender ended up making the move to Spain. The Herald reported on that here:  ‘Scotland centre-half Scott McKenna opens door to summer move to Celtic’

Now according to Spanish publication udlaspalms.net McKenna has a transfer release clause on the back of Las Palmas relegation and may not remain with the club next season.

‘Up to four players are out of contract on 30 June and will not continue at UD Las Palmas: Javi Muñoz, Campaña, Jaime Mata and Benito Ramírez. The last two, according to some media, could have a renewal proposal, although nothing official has been made by the club.

‘To these four names must be added that of the Scots Oli McBurnie and Scott McKenna and the DutchmanJasperCillessen. The striker has already confirmed that he is a free agent due to a clause activated after relegation, so everything indicates that the case of Scott McKenna and Cillessen – with salaries that are too high for the Second Division – will be similar.’

Celtic signed Auston Trusty from Sheffield United last season and after some initial promise, Brendan Rodgers brought Liam Scales back into the team after Trusty’s form took a dip. As such if Brendan Rodgers is unconvinced by either Scales or Trusty there may be scope to look at Scott McKenna as an alternative.

The former Aberdeen player is a known Celtic supporter and had been looking to return north of the border prior to his Las Palmas move.

Given Rodgers’ previous interest in the player, perhaps this deal is one Celtic could revisit. McKenna is unlikely to want to be playing in the Spanish second tier and that is highly likely to have an impact on his Scotland squad selection with a possible World Cup ahead next summer.

McKenna is a name that may well be on a list of potential centre-backs that Celtic are looking at and this time any deal might just work for all parties, unlike last summer, or the summer before…

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