Stephen Welsh will NOT be leaving Celtic to go out on loan to Belgian side KV Mechelen, at least for now…
Sky Sports reporter Anthony Joseph has posted an update on his previous story on Mechelen interest in the Celtic defender and the news today is that Welsh will not be heading out on loan as Brendan Rodgers is still assessing his options for central defence.
Gustaf Lagerbielke is likely to leave the club this summer, while Maik Nawrocki is still struggling with fitness issues. On Sunday afternoon Rodgers went with the tried and tested partnership of Cameron Carter-Vickers and Liam Scales, who scored Celtic’s second goal in the 4-0 win over Kilmarnock.
That leaves Yuki Kobayashi who remains somewhat further down the manager’s list of likely starters. He too may feel that he has too, like Lagerbielke, may feel that he has to move in order to get back to playing.
If Celtic are looking at bringing in a central defender before the window closes that could open the door for Mechelen to get a loan deal for Stephen Welsh through, but for now the answer is no, he’s staying at Celtic for the moment.
UPDATE: Celtic have told KV Mechelen that Stephen Welsh is not available for a transfer at this stage of the window.
The Belgian Pro League club made a loan offer for the centre-back.
Celtic are still assessing their CB situation and don’t want to lose Welsh at this stage. https://t.co/nl31zy8bvR
— Anthony Joseph (@AnthonyRJoseph) August 6, 2024
