CELTIC have suffered another blow in their pursuit of a left back with Mitchel Bakker of PSG appearing to be ready to reject any potential move in favour of staying in Paris to force himself into Thomas Tuchel’s team.
Dutch journalist Thierry Boon, as per the Daily Record, stated that Bakker wants to work for a place in the first team with the Champions League runners-up as he eyes displacing Bernat or Kurzawa – despite interest from Neil Lennon’s side.
The report carries a quote from the left-back which confirms his intentions to try and win a place with PSG: “I’m going for a chance in Paris.”
The ex-Ajax youngster is third choice with the Ligue 1 winners and their campaign starts on Thursday away to Lens, which may give Bakker a better idea of where he stands in Tuchel’s estimations. Celtic are on the hunt for a left back with Greg Taylor as the only option following Bolingoli’s reckless decision to go to Spain.
Ideally Neil Lennon would want a defender that can play at the centre of defence as well as left back – something that Bakker is capable of. Whilst the news is negative that Bakker wants a chance at PSG, Celtic could well return with an improved offer for the player when you remember that the transfer window still has four weeks to go.
It would be a high risk strategy for Celtic to wait until Bakker became available so other targets – like Charlton’s Alfie Doughty – need to be scouted and evaluated with strengthening in mind.
