Irish appearances in the Champions League over recent years have been sporadic.
So, the prospect of next season - should transfers go through - of having two from Martin O'Neill's Euro 2016 squad playing in European football's premier competition is certainly a positive.
Yesterday, there was news that Leicester's sale of N'Golo Kante to Chelsea could mean renewed interest in Robbie Brady.
In the Scottish Herald today there is an update regarding another transfer which has been rumoured for several weeks now.
Celtic will, apparently, this week make a bid for Shane Duffy. Rumours that Celtic and Brendan Rodgers held interest in the 24-year-old emerged quickly following Ireland's elimination from Euro 2016.
Last season, Duffy began to form a solid centre-back partnership with Grant Hanley at Blackburn Rovers. In just his second season with the Championship club, Duffy established himself in the first team, playing 41 games and also becoming a serious goal threat. Now it looks like both Duffy and Hanley could be leaving Ewood Park - Hanley has been linked with a move to Newcastle.
Last week, Celtic suffered an embarrassing defeat to part-timers Lincoln Red Imps in the Champions League second qualifying round. The second leg of that tie takes place tomorrow. If Celtic get past Lincoln, they will face either Zalgris of Lithuania or Astana from Kazakhstan in the next round.
Due to injury, Celtic fielded a centre-back partnership of Efe Ambrose and Erik Sviatchenko in that first leg against the Gibraltarians. Ambrose was particularly at fault for the winning goal. Rodgers now wants to upgrade his defensive options.
According to the Herald, Duffy would cost Celtic £3.5m. There was also speculation that winger James Forrest would be offered in part-exchange for Duffy but that is apparently not going to happen. Celtic are not the only club interested though. In the Premier League, both Swansea and West Brom are rumored to like the look of Duffy as do Wolves and Fulham in the Championship.
There is also the chance of Brendan Rodgers acquiring the services of one of his old players - Kolo Toure. The Ivorian was released by Liverpool last month,
Photo by Stephen McCarthy / Sportsfile
