Celtic’s burning search for a right-back continues. With links galore being banded about over the current summer window, it remains to be seen who Celtic will sign for the said defensive berth.
Ex-Hearts defender Aaron Hickey persists to be the name linked the most as Celtic look to fulfil their homegrown quota, with PEC Zwolle defender Kenneth Paal also being linked heavily of late; yet there is another name which seems to constantly creep into the conversation.
George Baldock, of Sheffield United, has also been linked with a move to Paradise in the last week – following The Blades’ relegation to England’s second tier after a dismal season in the top-flight. Baldock, 28, has been linked by reliable source The Sheffield Star previously, with the Yorkshire-based paper claiming he would be available for a fee of £5-8 million; relatively cheap for a player who has three years left on his contract, and someone who has been one of United’s more consistent players over the last couple of years.
And to add fuel to the fire, Danny Mills – a former England right-back – claims that Baldock’s relegation could force Celtic to try their hand at signing the defender due to the relegation clause in his contract which would decrease his wages.
Speaking to Football Insider, Mills said: “It depends on his contract at Sheffield United and whether Celtic can match that. With three years left, he’s signed it when they were in the Premier League and you would assume his wages will go down after they were relegated.
“It wouldn’t surprise me if Sheffield United had that clause in those contracts. They would always be concerned about going back down. It would make sense if those contracts went down if they got relegated. He might be looking for a wage increase and it’s if Celtic can offer that.”
