Celtic’s plans to hijack reported Rangers interest in Owen Beck have been scuppered after Liverpool handed the player a debut v Bournemouth.
Both sides of the Old Firm are said to have had initial approaches for Beck, 21, rebuffed after the left-back was recalled by the Reds earlier in January.
The Welshman had spent the first half of the season on loan at Dundee in the Scottish Premiership, where it’s said he turned Rangers and Celtic heads.
But any notion Owen Beck could return north this January has just been shot down after the player came off the bench in Liverpool’s 4-0 win at the Vitality.
Rangers, Celtic linked Owen Beck in Liverpool debut
Owen Beck replaced Connor Bradley in the 83rd minute of the clash with Bournemouth to make his Premier League debut for Liverpool.
Jurgen Klopp’s men were already three goals up in the match with Darwin Nunez opening the scoring and Diogo Jota adding a double.
An injury time second from Uruguayan hitman Nunez made it a debut to remember for Owen Beck, with links to both Celtic and Rangers being quashed the moment the left-back stepped onto the park.
UEFA registration rules prevent players from playing for more than two clubs in a season, with Owen Beck having now played for both Dundee and Liverpool.
Beck had been recalled to Liverpool during something of an injury crisis at the club, Joe Gomez deputising at left-back with Andy Robertson and Kostas Tsimikas sidelined.
Left-back transfer hunt continues
The news comes with Scottish journalist Scott Burns claiming just hours before that Celtic were interested in a permanent deal for Owen Beck.
Potentially set to hijack the reported Rangers interest earlier in the month, both sides of the Old Firm have been strongly linked with a left-back this January transfer window.
But it’s clear neither Rangers or Celtic will be able to secure the signing of Owen Beck if they want a prospective transfer in the position to play this season.
Exit reports continue at Rangers around Turkish international Ridvan Yilmaz, whilst Croatian left-back Borna Barisic is out of contract at the end of the season.
Meanwhile, Rangers are reportedly closing in on a move for talented Ivorian midfielder Mohamed Diomande.
