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Robert Hynes

Celtic eyeing up July friendly on Irish soil against Premier League club ahead of new season

Celtic are believed to be eyeing up a friendly match on Irish soil later this month, with Premier League side Wolves the likely opponents.

The Scottish champions and English Premier League side could meet at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, with Saturday July 29 the likely date.

The sides were due to face each other in South Korea this summer, but Celtic announced earlier this week that they had scrapped that part of their tour due to “financial and logistical” issues with the tour promoters after Wolves had already withdrawn from the match.

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Talks are understood to have been ongoing with the clubs and a match in Dublin looks likely to take place prior to the meeting of Manchester United and Athletic Bilbao at the same venue eight days layer.

It would be Celtic's first game this side of the world under returning manager Brendan Rodgers, with the treble winners playing four games in Japan over a ten-day period this month.

They begin their league title defence at home to Ross County on August 4, while Wolves take on Manchester United in their opening game of the Premier League season eight days later.

It would be the first time since 2018 that Celtic have played in Dublin, with the Hoops facing Shamrock Rovers at Tallaght Stadium on that occasion. They also played Rovers at the same venue 12 months previously.

The last of Celtic's visits to the Aviva came seven years ago when they lost 3-1 to Barcelona. They defeated Liverpool 1-0 at the Dublin 4 venue in 2013 and also faced Inter Milan and a League of Ireland XI in the Dublin Super Cup 12 years ago, losing 2-0 and winning 5-0 respectively.

Wolves previously spent a number of summers in Ireland between 2010 and 2014, playing both Shamrock Rovers and Bohemians nine years ago.

The July 29 date would see the match take place on the same weekend as the All-Ireland football final, which is scheduled for Croke Park the following day.


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