Celtic academy graduate Stephen Welsh is a reported target for Serie A clubs Hellas Verona and Bologna, according to Stephen McGowan, at Scottish Daily Mail

The 23-year-old centre half was linked with a move to fellow Italian side Udinese in January of last year, with the club also rejecting a loan to buy bid of £3.5 million from Ligue 1 side Toulouse six months later in July.

Both enquires about the player were dismissed by the club with former Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou seeing Welsh firmly in his first team plans for the future.

The former Scottish U21 international captain would go on to play just six times in the 22/23 season, with his last appearance coming in Celtics 2-1 away win at St Johnstone on 8 October 2022.

It remains to be seen whether Brendan Rodgers sees Welsh in his own plans, but for the player to truly develop he needs consistent game-time which may not be something Celtic can offer him.

Stephen Welsh is without doubt a talented centre-half who has found first team action hard to come by due to the ever-reliable partnership of Cameron Carter Vickers and Carl Starfelt over the past two seasons.

The Celtic academy graduate turns 24 next January and will surely feel he needs to be playing more than he is at this stage of his career.

Every player in the Celtic squad will have a chance to impress Brendan Rodgers in the coming months and Welsh is no different, it will be interesting to see how his current situation at the club pans out but it would look like a great opportunity for the player if he is offered the chance to play his football in Italy.

James French

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