Irish Cup winners Cliftonville have targeted two defenders as summer signings to build on this season’s success under Jim Magilton.
Michael Newberry of Linfield and Shaun Leppard of Institute are top of Magilton’s wishlist as he moved to bolster his back line.
22-year-old centre-half Odhran Casey enjoyed an outstanding season but suffered a horrible leg break at Windsor Park and was stretchered off just before half time.
Luke Turner, who was named Young Player of the Year two seasons ago, left Solitude in January to return to his native Dublin to play for boyhood club St Pat’s Athletic.
Moreover, Sean Stewart is on loan at Solitude from Norwich City but is out of contract and his future is unclear at the moment.
Solitude sources suggest the club is well positioned to sign both Newberry and Leppard and Linfield sources say they expect their player to play for Cliftonville next season.
Newcastle-born Newberry signed for the Blues in 2021 but is understood to be open to a new challenge in North Belfast.
23-year-old Leppard has enjoyed an outstanding season at the heart of Institute’s defence alongside Dylan King this year, and narrowly missed out on promotion to the Premiership following defeat to Ballymena on Friday night.
‘Stute manager Kevin Deery has already seen one of his prize assets, midfielder Oisin Devlin, sign for a top flight club and is resigned to losing Leppard as well.
“Shaun Leppard has been the best player in the Championship by a mile and there are so many big clubs after him”, said Deery.
“Oisin signed for Larne, we only managed to get him back on loan because he was enjoying his football so much and Larne felt it was good to develop him here so Oisin’s going to move on.
“He will be in the Premiership next season for someone, I don’t think it will be Larne yet because of the levels they are at.
“So there’s two players already gone and we’re going around the city trying to find players like him, develop them and go again.
“It’s difficult but that’s what Institute do, they bring on their own players through the academy and move them on.
“We got a fee for Oisin but we probably won’t get a fee for Shaun because he’s at the end of his contract.
“He’ll move on to bigger and better things.”
It is understood Leppard studies in Belfast so a move to the city would appeal, and Cliftonville insiders are optimistic about their chances of signing the imposing young defender.