STEPHEN McGOWAN in today’s Daily Mail has reported that Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers is lining up a swoop for the Borussia Dortmund right-back Jeremy Toljan.
Toljan, who can also play as a left-back has been told by the Bundesliga side that he can go out on loan to get some game time after failing to establish himself in the Dortmund side since his move to the club from Hoffenheim in 2017.
Dortmund paid Hoffenheim £6million for Jeremy Toljan who made 27 appearances in his first season, but has failed to play a single senior game this season. A loan deal to Celtic could open the door for a potential summer purchase, giving Celtic the chance to try before you buy.
Dortmund’s Swiss coach Lucien Favre, who arrived last summer, just doesn’t seem to fancy Toljan and the 24 year old could be looking for an exit to kick-start his career.
The right back position has been a concern at Celtic all season. Mikael Lustig is still waiting on a decision on whether Celtic will activate their one year contract extension in his current deal.
Cristian Gamboa is content to sit things out at Celtic until the summer when his contract expires and he will then move on, although the club would not stand in his way if anything emerges this week.
And Anthony Ralston went over on his ankle in the closing stages of the 4th Round Scottish Cup win over Airdrie and is now set for another period on the sidelines.
Rodgers has actively pursued both Belgian international Timothy Castagne, who plays at Atalanta in Italy and Norway’s right back Omar Elabdelloaui who plays at Olympiakos in Greece. Neither player seemed particularly interested in a move to Scotland.
Now if Stephen McGowan is correct, and he is regarded as being the most reliable of the sports journalists in Scotland, then Jeremy Toljan could be the solution to Celtic’s right back predicament. Here is McGowan’s exclusive report…
Also on The Celtic Star today…
