Celtic suffer blow as top transfer target doesn’t want move

Celtic have been handed a major transfer blow as their top target appears to be not to keen on a move to the Scottish champions.

Celtic‘s handling of their transfer business does deserve some praise this season. Of course, they made the same mistake of leaving things too late, leading to their elimination from the Champions League qualifiers.

But all things considered, the club have managed to bring in most of their targets. Shane Duffy, David Turnbull and Albian Ajeti were all players that Neil Lennon clearly wanted. The decision to extend Mohamed Elyounoussi’s loan for another season has also looked like a shrewd move. And Vasilis Barkas is also someone that looked like the top target when it became clear that Fraser Forster was not interested in returning to Parkhead again.

That’s a very good transfer window by all means. But the Hoops will be looking to bring in more reinforcements with 10IAR hanging in the balance. And one position that needs new blood is left-back.

It is very likely that Boli Bolingoli will never put on the shirt again after the Spanish trip debacle earlier in the season. And Greg Taylor has not looked the most convincing in the chances that he has been given. As a result, a left-back would be high on Neil Lennon’s wish list. And the man he apparently wants is PSG left-back Mitchel Bakker.

The club have already failed with a loan bid for the Dutchman but PSG are open to a deal if an improved offer is made. It looks like though that the player himself might not be that interested.

As reported by NOS’ Theirry Boon and cited by the Glasgow Times, he wants to fight for a place at the French champions next season:

"“Celtic seems to want to rent Mitchel Bakker from PSG.“The left-back rules out a (temporary) departure. “I’m going for a chance in Paris.””"

This will be a huge blow to Celtic as Bakker is someone who would have just walked into the first-team. He has already featured for PSG’s first-team and came through Ajax’s famed academy. Unfortunately though, it looks like the club will have to turn their attention towards other left-backs.