It has just been announced that former Chelsea and England international defender Gary Cahill has left Crystal Palace after his contract expired at Selhurst Park. The 35 year old is an experienced player, who has plied his trade at the highest level of the game. Available on a free transfer and having accrued decent wages throughout his career, Cahill could now be attainable for a club like Celtic. In my view, he could be a decent short term acquisition for the Hoops. He would certainly sure up the defence and bring his wisdom to the back line this season, in much the same way as Kolo Toure did for the team under Brendan Rodgers back in 2016.
Cahill has been a solid performer in the Premiership, making 20 appearances in the English top flight last term. Despite losing a yard of pace, he still has the football brain to ensure he doesn’t get easily beaten by faster strikers. And if he’s able to cope with the top strikers playing for the likes of Man City, Man Utd and Liverpool etc, then he should be able to deal with anything thrown Celtic’s way in the SPFL.
With new signings such as Carl Starfelt needing to settle in and youngsters such as Murray and Welsh looking to stake a first team claim, a centre half with the stature of Cahill could guide those players through their development and solidify the defence. He would undoubtedly bring a calmness and assurance to the team, settling all around him, which is something we need this year – especially where the goalkeeper is concerned.
On reduced wages with no transfer fee required, Celtic would be wise to secure Gary Cahill for the season to help Celtic through this transitional period. In return, he would get the chance to play for another big club, in front of a passionate fan base, with the opportunity to potentially win trophies and play in Europe again. Hopefully it makes sense for both parties.