Neil Lennon provides transfer update about signing defender

Neil Lennon has shed some light regarding the club’s stance about signing a new defender in the current transfer window.

With Celtic’s first SPFL match in the books, Neil Lennon has confirmed today in a media conference the club’s intentions to bring in a new center-half before the window closes.

The manager is now confirmed to be searching for a veteran center-half to bring in behind Jullien and Ajer. While the two showed their mettle (disregarding Jullien’s freak own goal) during the 5-1 victory over Hamilton, the club has limited options behind them with Jozo Simunovic’s departure leaving just Nir Bitton, Hatem Abd Elhamed and Stephen Welsh; none of whom have ever been a first choice centre-back at the club for any significant length of time.

In the media conference, Lennon describes the club’s need for reinforcement in the heart of defence:

"“I need a centre half in because Jozo, we didn’t take the option up with Jozo and I think that we need to add to the centre-forward position.”"

The 28-year-old Bitton has been with the Hoops since 2013 but hasn’t made any consistent appearances in league play since 2016-2017. The 29-year-old Abd Elhamed, with the club since last July, has only made four league appearances as well. Welsh, at 20, was loaned out to Greenock Morton last season and only has one appearance for the Hoops.

There have been numerous rumors as to who the club have targeted of late, including  Branimir Kalaica from Benfica, Mark McKenzie from Philadephia Union (MLS), and Christophe Herelle from Nice.

As of yet, however, no moves have been made official with Barkas being the only permanent deal made on the window for the Hoops, as well as Mo Elyounoussi‘s loan return. Although it does look like transfer business is slowly but surely picking up at Celtic.