Gustaf Lagerbielke is set to return to Celtic this summer, as FC Twente insiders have acknowledged that a permanent transfer is unlikely…
With limited first-team opportunities at the Hoops, the Swedish defender was loaned to the Eredivisie for the season, having made only seven Premiership appearances the previous year.
Lagerbielke made 32 appearances during Twente’s campaign that saw them secure sixth place in the Eredivisie, but former technical director Arnold Bruggink has conceded that a permanent stay is doubtful.
He said: “Lagerbielke will most likely go back too. That’s what it looks like at the moment. Two central defenders, one of whom has to be a real leader, as far as I’m concerned.”
“The profile you’re looking at is that of Robin Propper. You need a leader from the back, which will give you a lot more stability.”
“You need players who can also make others play better football. That’s what you need in that position.”
Meanwhile, a Sky Sports report this week outlined that Brendan Rodgers is looking to offload Lagerbeilke permanently among others such as Luis Palma, Maik Nawrocki, Stephen Welsh and Marco Tilio.
Four of the five players arrived at Celtic during the first transfer window following Rodgers’ return in 2023, which came after Ange Postecoglou left for Tottenham Hotspur. The Irishman had no part in their signings and has since taken time to evaluate them in training at Lennoxtown and in games before deciding on their future. It is quite obvious that he does not see any of the five as long-term solutions.
All except Nawrocki spent time away from Celtic during the second half of the season with their future beyond this summer expected to lie away from Glasgow.
With the transfer window opening next month, an area Rodgers is expected to recruit will be centre-back with £6 million defender Austin Trusty falling behind Liam Scales in the pecking order.
Where that leaves Lagerbeilke remains to be seen – but Celtic cutting their losses on the 25 year-old seems to be entirely plausible.
Conor Spence
Trusty and Scales have both had ample playing time to give all of us a clear indication of their strengths and weaknesses. Trusty bemused me completely with his relative authority in most European games but his lack of coordination and physicality in the SPL. Scales alternates between the Ginger Baresi and then a player who seems strangely lacking in confidence with the ball at his feet.
However – if you clear the decks of Lagerbielke and Welsh, and there’s a notion that Trusty might go, why would Rocky also be anywhere near the hit list. It makes no sense, especially given the comparable lack of game time he’s had to make the same impression. We can’t afford to replace 4 CBs with unknown quantities, albeit big Dane Murray is maybe one to watch.
Anyway listen to me getting 3 steps ahead of myself, let’s see what unfolds. I just think big Maik deserves a proper chance to prove his worth. He’s been patient and he’s done pretty well.