Jack Hendry has reportedly chosen to move from Celtic to KV Oostende on a permanent basis, according to 90MIN. The Belgian club are then eyeing up an immediate sale, leaving the Hoops out on some of the profits.

The Lowdown: Permanent move secured

Following an impressive 2020/21 loan spell with the Belgian top-flight outfit, the 26-year-old has elected to move on to pastures new in a move that suits all parties.

An outcast at Parkhead, the Scot has enjoyed a rather unexpected rise to prominence in the past year. Making 27 appearances over the course of the campaign, Hendry helped secure an outstanding fifth place finish for the provincial minnows [BBC].

    The Latest: Oostende cashing in

Hendry's move on loan to KV Oostende contained an option to buy for just under £2 million [The Celtic Star]. His prospective new employers have now chosen to activate this clause.

Despite the Hoops being set to net a decent fee for the Scotland international, a strange situational realm has occurred surrounding his departure. Owing to his upturn in form the past year, he netted the prestigious Sport Voetbal Belgian player of the year award.

As a result, 90MIN report that KV Oostende may look to sell the former Dundee man for a significant profit immediately in this transfer window. Crystal Palace, Leeds, Burnley and Newcastle are some of the names rumoured to be in the hunt.

The Verdict: Mixed emotions for Celtic

There are pros and cons to this deal from a Celtic perspective. Positively, the Hoops are set to make a small profit on the man signed for £1.44 million in January 2018 [Transfermarkt]. However, one can only wonder what could’ve been if his buy-out clause wasn’t included in the deal.

Short on central defenders, it may come as a blow to Lennoxtown chiefs losing a potential solution to an undoubted problem position, but even if the intention was never to keep him in Glasgow long-term, the fact that the Belgian outfit are looking to immediately shift him along for profit suggests the Bhoys could have made a much heftier sum had they not offered the option to leave permanently at the end of the loan.

In other news, Celtic are eyeing a new candidate to help fill the DoF role...