Ange Postecoglou has admitted that work to bring signings into the club are well underway as he looks to make his mark in Paradise but he will know that there are a number of key positions that need to be filled ASAP.
Celtic were poor on all fronts last season and the Australian will know that he needs to hit the ground running in order to regain all three trophies and achieve Champions League football. The 55-year-old has won titles in Australia and Japan as well as the 2015 Asia Cup with Australia but he will know how important it is that he gets his recruitment right.
We have already looked at right backs, left backs and goalkeepers so we will today look at central defenders, a position that Celtic have struggled in this season.
Celtic went into last season preferring a 3-5-2 with Christopher Jullien and Kris Ajer often being joined by Nir Bitton in a back three with Jullien and Ajer being the preferred pairing in a back four. However, fans and the club alike knew that recruitment was necessary to bring another defender is as both the Norwegian Internationalist and Frenchman seemed to struggled under the pressure of a towering centre forward, like Lyndon Dykes. Shane Duffy was brought in after the Champions League exit to Ferencvaros and Celtic seemed to be settled at the back.
However, Jullien injured his back after Celtic’s impressive league start which allowed Duffy to come into the team. Duffy was heralded in as being the no-nonsense central defender that the club had been missing but, unfortunately, for whatever reason, he wasn’t good enough at Celtic.
COVID-19 meant that Stephen Welsh would start against Rangers and AC Milan but truthfully, the lack of depth cost Celtic as the youngster was thrust into the first team picture with Kris Ajer the only permanent fixture in a back four and goalkeeper that were constantly in a state of flux. Set pieces cost Celtic but that was likely to be the manager’s doing as the team appeared to freeze as corners were swung in.
Just as Celtic seemed to find a bit of rhythm again ahead of the New Year game at Ibrox, Jullien collided with the goalpost against Dundee United, ending his season. The game against Rangers would see Bitton subbed in and for all Celtic’s dominance, Rangers won through an own-goal as Bitton was sent off by Bobby Madden.
Lee O’Connor, who can play at CB and RB was on loan at Tranmere whilst Jack Hendry was on loan at Oostende. Hendry has completed a permanent switch to the Belgian side whilst ex-Man Utd kid O’Connor is back at pre-season with Celtic.
Duffy departed before the season was fully completed, ending a horrid spell in Glasgow for the lifelong Celtic fan. Bitton and Welsh were at pre-season training with Jullien back in Scotland undergoing some fitness before he can take part in full sessions again. However, Kris Ajer is widely expected to depart but only if Celtic can get their optimum price for the Norwegian, likely around £15m – therefore, the manager will need to invest wisely in the summer combining quality and cost.
O’Connor, Welsh and Bitton will likely be in and around the team in some capacity but they are not good enough to replace Ajer or Jullien, therefore Celtic need to sign one, maybe two, central defenders.
Who could Celtic sign?
Mario Vuskovic – Hajduk Split’s Mario Vuskovic is one of the more impressive names that Celtic have been linked with. The £5m-rated central defender looks set to be sold and Celtic are said to have opened up dialogue with the Croatian side. Vuskovic was part of the Croatia side that knocked out England in the U21s Euros group stages and is likely to attract interest from clubs around Europe, with Serie A side Torino said to have been extremely keen on launching a bid for the talented centre-back. A confident, ball playing defender, Vuskovic would certainly suit Celtic’s style of play but (assuming Jullien remains) he is a right footed central defender too.
Erik Sviatchenko – Celtic have been linked with a raid of Champions League rivals FC Midtjylland captain, Erik Sviatchenko. Sviatchenko needs no introduction, he has won two leagues, two league cups and one Scottish Cup after making 62 appearances for the club, scoring twice. Sviatchenko spoke of his love for the club last year and would surely relish a chance to come back to the club and help win the league title back from Rangers. The 29-year-old has a release clause and Celtic likely have a sell-on fee that would speed up any deal.
Piero Hincapie – the Ecuadorian central defender has impressed at the Copa Americas and at just 19-years-old can only get better. A host of clubs have been linked with a move for the player but with a contract until 2025 means that his club Talleres de Cordoba are asking for a large fee to seal a deal.
Rob Atkinson – The Oxford Town central defender is said to be available for just £1.6m but whether he is good enough to become a regular first teamer at Celtic remains to be seen. The player began his career in France before moving to Fulham’s youth team. The defender scored twice in 44 appearances and earned praises for his performances at the back.
