Sometimes it feels like you can’t do right from doing wrong. At Celtic right now, that’s how it must feel inside the walls of our Lennoxtown Headquarters up in the Campsies. Since the season started, we’ve had successive injuries to some key players and others whose place it would have been to supplement the regular starters in such a scenario unfolding.
The recent injury crisis has ripped through our team and hasn’t discriminated when it comes to our central defenders. In an abysmal turn of events, our main defensive rock, Cameron Carter-Vickers, has been ruled out for two months. To add to our woes, Maik Nawrocki and Stephen Welsh will now join him for an extended period of time on the sidelines. It’s the mother of all disasters for our club and one which could have devastating consequences if not properly addressed before the closing of the transfer window.
With this in mind, here are three potential options for Celtic to bring in a temporary solution to our dire central defensive situation for the time being. All three would certainly bring stability to a wobbly backline as it stands, whilst also being the short-term cover we need to see us through this bumpy patch we find ourselves in.
First option: Eric Dier
Reports had come to the surface recently about Celtic holding an interest in Dier’s situation at Tottenham Hotspur under our old boss, Ange Postecoglou. The England cap was once a stalwart of that Spurs side and his versatility has proved very useful for the North London outfit during his time there.
Undoubtedly, he has lost his way over the past couple of years, but if anybody could get him fit and firing on all cylinders again it would be Brendan Rodgers. The boss will know the player well from his time in England and would know exactly what he would be getting. Dier would bring experience and leadership as well as a clever football brain to proceedings, should we decide to make a move for him before this window closes.
Ange Postecoglou has just admitted that he needs to trim numbers from his squad before the end of the summer transfer window and Dier is reportedly one that could leave. It’s stated that Dier doesn’t wish to cut ties with Tottenham completely, but he would be open to a loan move if the right opportunity arose.
Now people will argue about wages, but at this point, Celtic aren’t in a position to turn down players with that type of profile and experience in the game. Dier could fit in seamlessly if he upped sticks to the Scottish Premiership and it would certainly relieve some pressure.
Second option: Tiago Ilori
This name is one that Celtic were linked with several years ago now. Tiago Ilori was once a Liverpool player but didn’t quite make the grade. The player has spent most of his time with Sporting Lisbon in Portugal and was funnily enough plucked from their youth ranks by the Reds back in the 2013/14 season.
Although he’s played in Portugal for most of his career, Ilori has spent time in the English Championship with Reading, whilst he also had a short stint at Villa too in the English Premier League back in 2015/16. Now 30, the player is a free agent having been cut loose by Sporting CP and will be on the lookout for his next place of employment. Perhaps Celtic could offer him a short-term deal and see how it goes from there?
Third option: Taylor Harwood-Bellis
This one is intriguing as despite his tender age at just 21-years-old, Taylor Harwood-Bellis has a wealth of experience for someone so young. A product of the Manchester City youth academy, the player has been on various loan deals to English sides and is the captain of the England U-21’s.
Harwood-Bellis was most recently on loan with Burnley in the English Championship and was part of a side that helped the Turf Moor side get promotion to the Premier League once again. The young defender also helped the side to 11 clean sheets – the best in the division. New boss Vincent Kompany was delighted with his performces for the Lancashire outfit and even tried to get him permanently from City this summer but to no avail.
It’s claimed that City would be open to letting him leave permanently but the right sort of loan-deal could appeal if nobody is willing to match their valuation before the deadline of 1 September. The Euros U21 winner would be a fantastic addition to the squad and although he’d be out of our league to buy outright, a temporary switch could really work out well for both parties.
Paul Gillespie
What is Harwood- Bellis valued at ?