Stoke City set to beat Celtic to Crystal Palace transfer | OneFootball

Stoke City have fended off competition from Celtic for the signature of Crystal Palace midfielder Justin Devenny

Stoke City have beaten off competition from Scottish giants Celtic to the signing of Crystal Palace midfielder Justin Devenny, with the Northern Irish international undergoing a medical in North Staffordshire.

Indeed, according to The Telegraph's John Percy via X, Stoke are set to win the race for Crystal Palace's Devenny despite competition from Celtic.

Alan Nixon reported via his Patreon earlier today that Celtic had made an attempt to bring the 22-year-old to the club on loan, but Palace preferred a sale for around £7 million, as Stoke have now leapfrogged the Glaswegian outfit in the race on deadline day.

Stoke City are set to confirm the signing of Crystal Palace midfielder Justin Devenny amid Celtic interest

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Devenny, 22, came through the youth system of Scottish side Kilmarnock, but earned his break with Airdrieonians in the Scottish third tier before earning a move to Crystal Palace in the summer of 2023.

The 12-capped Northern Irish international spent his first year in South London in the Eagles' youth setup, but would be introduced to the first-team squad in 2024 by Oliver Glasner, where he has since gone on to make 60 appearances for Palace across all competitions, helping the club lift their first piece of silverware via the FA Cup and then the UEFA Europa Conference League last season.

With Pierre Sage taking the reins at Selhurst Park after Glasner's departure, Devenny doesn't appear to be in the Frenchman's plans, as Celtic tried to lure him back north of the border earlier today with a loan bid.

Stoke have now won the race for the 22-year-old, and will likely become the Potters' tenth addition of the summer.

Why Stoke City are signing Justin Devenny

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Devenny has filled in numerous roles around the Palace first-team ever since his introduction into the squad by Glasner, capable of operating anywhere across the midfield, on either flank, or as a wing-back.

It's unclear at this stage where Robins sees Devenny slotting in at Stoke, but with Sorba Thomas close to signing for Hull City, there will be a vacancy on the left flank that will need to be filled, something the Northern Irishman is capable of doing.

Devenny will link up with compatriot Ethan Galbraith in the Potteries, who himself joined the club in recent months from Swansea City.

Robins is under pressure to save his job after a poor start to the campaign preceded a disastrous finish to last season, and will hope Devenny has an instant and positive impact upon his arrival.

Mark Robins will be aiming for a strong end to the transfer window after Justin Devenny's capture

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With Thomas on his way to Hull, Stoke are losing their chief goal threat and creator in one fell swoop, as Robins will be hoping Devenny's addition will go some way to mitigating that loss.

USMNT midfielder Jack McGlynn is expected to be the next through the doors at the bet365 Stadium in a $5.5 million (£4m) from Houston Dynamo, as the former Coventry City boss targets a strong end to the window.

Whether these additions will be enough to save his job, or break Stoke's bottom-half curse remains to be seen, as the Potters pip Celtic to the signature of Devenny on deadline day.