We still don’t know how Celtic’s finances will look once the current crisis is over, but you have to imagine they will need to be slightly more frugal in the transfer market for a couple of seasons.
That’s not to say they shouldn’t spend any money at all, but any funds should be directed towards improving the first team and not signing players who will barely see the field.
Moritz Bauer arrived in the Summer and looked like a real contender to take over the right back spot, but at worst it appeared he would rotate with Hatem Abd Elhamed.
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That was before we knew what Jeremie Frimpong was capable of, so he’s really seen as third choice just now. He’s only on loan from the English side, and you would think a permanent move seems unlikely.
The Stoke Sentinel picked up on some comments from former Celt Mark Wilson about Bauer’s future, and it sounds like he doesn’t see the need for the permanent transfer either:
“He came in and he came on at Ibrox and you thought he looked a solid choice for right-back. I don’t think he’s really set the heather alight.”
“I think to be a Celtic full-back you need to be very comfortable on the ball and you need to be attacking minded and I think Bauer looks solid enough defensively but maybe not as much on the ball which you would like a full-back to be in the modern game.”
“He’s certainly got a tool with that long throw of his but I think for £5m when you’ve got Frimpong there it wouldn’t be in the club’s best interest to keep him past his loan deal.”
Who knows how accurate that £5m price tag is, but it’s very difficult to make the case for signing him if it’s true. Yes he’s versatile and perhaps it could make sense if a big offer comes in for Frimpong, but it looks like he will need to fight for a place at Stoke or look for a new team this Summer.