Celtic passed up chance to sign Premier League defender

Celtic have brought in Jonjoe Kenny on loan from Everton, but they reportedly passed up the opportunity to bring in a more experienced Premier League defender.

Jeremie Frimpong’s move to Bayer Leverkusen has opened the door for another right-back to come in, although The Hoops do have Hatem Abd Elhamed and Anthony Ralston already in their ranks in addition to the current first-choice right-back in Kristoffer Ajer.

While the interest was never fully known, it has since been reported by Daily Record that Celtic was interested in Newcastle United right-back DeAndre Yedlin. The 27-year-old US international is now set to complete a move to Galatasaray after making just 10 appearances for The Magpies this season.

Yedlin has made more than 200 professional appearances throughout his stints with the Seattle Sounders, Tottenham Hotspur, Sunderland and Newcastle United. The American has also made 62 appearances for the United States national team.

Would Yedlin have been a good signing for Celtic?

Yedlin is a proven defender that was brought up through the Seattle Sounders Academy and eventually went on to play in England. He was a good option, but doesn’t seem like a player who would want to stick around for too long.

As Celtic fans have figured out this season, not all proven Premier League defenders are a good fit for the Hoops. Shane Duffy seemed to be the dream fit on loan from Brighton and Hove Albion, yet his time at Parkhead has been a nightmare.

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While Yedlin is known for his pace and seems to be a good alternative after Jeremy Frimpong’s departure, he is no longer the youngest guy around. He would have brought a similar pace to Frimping’s while adding more strength.

In the end, you can’t really fault Celtic for not really going after Yedlin. With so much up in the air with the club, it would have been difficult to get him to sign with the Hoops. Additionally, the club are going to bring in a different right-back, Jonjoe Kenny, who is younger and has more to gain from a move to Parkhead than Yedlin.

Considering the current state of the club and the current state of Yedlin’s career as he enters his prime, it is best for both parties that he didn’t sign for the Hoops. Yes, he would have been a good addition, but it is a signing that the club will be fine without, giving a chance now for Kenny to make a real name for himself. And if he impresses, they can probably sign him on a permanent basis in the future as well.