Linfield Manager Healy Confident Cooper Will Remain Amidst Transfer Links

Linfield manager David Healy has expressed “absolutely no doubt” that player Joel Cooper will remain with the club and be part of the squad when the January transfer window commences, despite reports linking Cooper with a transfer to Coleraine. Cooper has been strongly associated with a potential transfer to fellow Irish Premiership team, Coleraine. The 28-year-old player’s existing contract with Linfield is set to conclude at the end of the current season, and he has not yet finalized a new agreement. On Tuesday, the winger scored the decisive goal in the second half, securing a 1-0 win against Dungannon Swifts. This result extended Linfield’s lead at the top of the table to 11 points. Cooper has distinguished himself as a key performer this season, with his goal at Stangmore Park marking his 11th league goal of the current campaign. When questioned by BBC Sport NI regarding Cooper’s future, Healy stated, “Joel has picked up his fifth yellow today so he will miss the Glenavon game on Saturday.” He further added, “Am I confident he’ll be back for Boxing Day? One million percent. Joel will be playing on Boxing Day. We’ll look forward to hopefully more goals and more moments like what Joel has contributed, tonight and throughout his the majority of the time throughout his Linfield career.” Asked about his expectation of Cooper remaining with Linfield into the January transfer window, Healy responded, “He’ll be staying.” He then outlined upcoming fixtures, stating, “We play Larne on the 30th (of December), then we play Wellington Rec on the fourth (of January) and then Carrick on the 11th. I’ve absolutely no doubt that Joel Cooper will be playing in every single one of those games.” Healy mentioned that there had been “talk from elsewhere” but affirmed that his players maintained focus and were not sidetracked by the reports concerning Cooper’s future prior to the match. Coleraine, currently positioned eighth in the league standings and trailing Linfield by 18 points, has been associated with Cooper following a new investment from Henry Ross earlier in the season. He further commented, “There’s no talk in our place. The only talk here was concentrating on the job at hand against Dungannon.” Healy continued, “Others will speculate, others will talk, others will be certain, others will know and others will star rumours etc.” He concluded by stating, “Joel will miss Saturday and then he’ll be back involved for the Glentoran game for the big game we have at the Oval on Boxing Day.”