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Celtic linked with £6 million move for Belgian international

By Andy Muirhead

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM - OCTOBER 16: Timothy Castagne of Belgium is challenged by Arnaut Groeneveld of the Netherlands during the International Friendly match between Belgium and Netherlands at King Baudouin Stadium on October 16, 2018 in Brussels, Belgium. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM - OCTOBER 16: Timothy Castagne of Belgium is challenged by Arnaut Groeneveld of the Netherlands during the International Friendly match between Belgium and Netherlands at King Baudouin Stadium on October 16, 2018 in Brussels, Belgium. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images) /
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Celtic are reportedly eyeing up a potential move for Belgian international defender Timothy Castagne who currently plays for Atalanta in Serie A.

With Celtic looking for a successor to Swedish international Mikael Lustig, Castagne is one of those seemingly earmarked by Rodgers as a potential replacement.

Castagne is currently contracted to the Serie A side until 2020 and having won three caps for the Belgian national side, his price tag will be hefty even if Atalanta were interested in selling him. But having signed him only 18 months ago from Genk, it will take a mighty transfer offer for them to part with the defender – even a player that has only played 36 times [7 as a substitute] in that time.

It would be great to sign a player like Castagne, the lure of the Scottish Premiership is less attractive than playing Italian football – even as a substitute. The wages, the players, the lifestyle and the weather are all factors – and with Castagne playing in the 2-2 draw with Juventus on Boxing Day I find it hard to believe that Atalanta will entertain any bid that Celtic could muster unless it is obscene and Celtic will not do that.

And yes, while I agree that Celtic need to find a replacement for Lustig with the Swede looking a shadow of his former self and Gamboa failing to break into the side regularly – I think youngster Anthony Ralston needs more game time at the club.

That isn’t to say that Celtic shouldn’t go out and buy another right back as we certainly need quality players in all positions – I just think that Castagne, even if he is a serious consideration for Celtic, will not come to Celtic because of the level they play at domestically.

Some will claim that the lure of Champions League football is what draws players to Celtic – but I would disagree with that. The lure of a move to the English Premier League is what draws players to a club like Celtic. The lure of Champions League football keeps them at the club for a little bit longer. Players like Castagne don’t need Celtic to give them a leg up when he is already in one of the top five leagues in the world and playing for a national team ranked first in the latest FIFA rankings.

That is why I don’t believe the hype around Celtic launching an ambitious bid for the Belgian. I would love it to be true, but in all seriousness, I can’t see Atalanta selling to Celtic let alone the player swapping Serie A for the Scottish Premiership – or is this another loan deal?

Either way, it would be seen as a backward step for the player and his development. A sad indictment of the Scottish game and the level that Celtic now compete at but compared to what Italian football has to offer it is a no-brainer for Castagne.

Next transfer rumour please?