Celtic are once again looking to strengthen their left back position ahead of the 24/25 season, with Liverpool’s Owen Beck back on their radar. [Lewis Steele] The young left-back nearly joined Celtic in January, but a last-minute decision by then-Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp saw the move fall through, leaving Celtic’s plans in disarray.
Celtic had been monitoring Beck for some time, and after a six-month loan stint at Dundee, they made it clear to Liverpool that they were keen to secure him on loan for the second half of the 23/24 season. With Greg Taylor being the only senior left-back at the club, Celtic were eager to bring in competition to ensure they had depth in this crucial position.
Liverpool didn’t dismiss Celtic’s interest outright but asked for patience. Klopp had not yet decided where Beck fit into his plans, leaving Celtic in a holding pattern. The club waited, hopeful that they could bring the young full-back to Glasgow.
As the January transfer window drew closer to its end, Celtic were increasingly confident they could land Beck. However, Liverpool named him in the squad for their 4-0 win against Bournemouth on the 21st of January, which initially didn’t raise concerns at Parkhead. But when Klopp chose to bring Beck on for the final seven minutes of the match, it changed everything.
Due to FIFA regulations, a player cannot feature for three different clubs in a single season. This last-minute appearance for Liverpool meant Beck was now ineligible to move to Celtic, leaving him only able to play for Liverpool or return to Dundee. He would eventually move back to Dundee for the rest of the campaign, further compounding Klopp’s decision.
Sources close to the club reveal that there was considerable frustration at Celtic over Klopp’s decision. With the move to Celtic looking likely before his intervention, the substitution by Klopp appeared unnecessary, especially for just seven minutes in a match that was already decided. The incident left Celtic scrambling to find alternative options for the remainder of the season.
With the 24/25 season beginning this weekend, Celtic have reportedly reignited their interest in Beck. However, Liverpool are said to prefer a permanent sale rather than another loan, which could complicate matters once again.
Celtic’s need for a solid left-back remains, with Greg Taylor currently shouldering the burden on his own. As the transfer window reaches a crescendo, the Scottish Champions will be hoping to convince Liverpool that a season-long loan is the best option, giving Beck valuable first-team experience while filling a critical gap in Celtic’s squad.
Whether this deal will finally happen remains to be seen, but Celtic are determined to strengthen their defensive options before the new season kicks off.
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