Trevor Carson's Celtic switch could hand Hartlepool United £300,000 lifeline

The Mail has learned that Pools have a significant sell-on clause that could total up to 40% of any resale.

And as a result, should Carson depart Motherwell before the deadline tonight, cash-strapped Hartlepool could be quids in.

The Northern Irishman has been in remarkable form since making the move north of the border.

And with Celtic’s No 1 Craig Gordon injured, boss Brendan Rodgers has turned his attentions to another former Sunderland stopper Carson to provide cover between now and the end of the season.

According to reports north of the border, Motherwell value Carson, bought for just £15,000 in the summer, at £750,000.

And should they get that, up to £300,000 could be heading to Victoria Park to aid the club’s fight for survival.

The Hoops had a £200,000 offer rejected for the keeper yesterday, but are expected to come back with improved terms today.

Meanwhile, Well boss Stephen Robinson is keen to hang on to Carson, but accepts if a massive offers comes in, his goalie will probably head to Parkhead.

“I spoke to Brendan [on Monday] after he had the courtesy to ring me. We then passed it over to the money men, Alan Burrows and Peter Lawwell,” said

“They had a chat but realised our valuations were miles away from one another.

“That’s as far as it has gone at the minute. Trevor is a Motherwell player and will stay a Motherwell player until our valuations are met.

“He is very much committed to Motherwell. He has two and a half years left on his contract and it’s 24 hours left until the close of the window, so people will be sold from this football club at the right price when we decide, not when others decide.

“It would certainly make things very difficult for me [if Celtic did meet Carson’s valuation]. Players’ valuations go up and down depending on what point in the window you’re at because the closer you are to the end then the timescale to replace them becomes very difficult.

“So it would have to be a very good bid for us to let Trevor go.

“It would be the nightmare scenario if we had to let him go now.

“Hopefully we won’t have to do that.”

Meanwhile, Pools’ coffers are also likely to be boosted today by the departure of winger Nicky Deverdics.

The 30-year-old is out of contract in the summer but it looks as though Pools will get a fee for the player, with fifth tier rivals Wrexham looking to tie up a deal.
Eastleigh have also looked into the prospect of signing Deverdics, but it is believed the Welsh outfit lead the race to sign the Geordie, who has failed to recapture the Dover Athletic form which saw Craig Hignett move to hand the player a two-year deal in the summer of 2016.