‘Close to my heart’ – Transfer target makes Celtic admission

As new Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou begins to shape his team by extending Leigh Griffiths’ contract by another year and signing Osaze Urhoghide from Sheffield Wednesday, the club are expected to remain active when it comes to signing players over the coming months.

One player who has been linked with a move to Parkhead is Erik Sviatchenko, who will know Scottish football very well having already spent a couple of seasons at Parkhead.

And bringing him back might make a lot of sense with Kristoffer Ajer’s future up in the air, with just a year left on his current deal and many clubs believed to be interested in the Norwegian international’s signature.

While speaking on The Go Radio Football Show and as reported by The Scottish Sun, Sviatchenko said:

"“I’ve heard those rumours too but it’s difficult for me to say more.“When it’s rumours, it’s rumours. Unless I hear anything else it’s just a rumour.“But I’ve always said Celtic is close to my heart as is Midtjylland. Those are the two clubs that I follow and whatever happens, happens.“It’s not up to me.“You could argue that Celtic know what they would be getting with me and I know what the club is about.“But it’s so difficult to talk about transfer rumours.”"

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Would Sviatchenko be a good signing for Celtic?

Sviatchenko spent the last six months of his Celtic career away on loan before sealing a permanent exit back to FC Midtjylland. There, he has appeared to grow further as a player and is also their captain right now.

Interestingly, Celtic and FC Midtjylland are set to meet in the UEFA Champions League second qualifying round. The first meeting will be in Glasgow on July 20 before the return leg in Denmark on July 28. Could the Hoops already complete a move for Sviatchenko by then? That remains to be seen but rumours do suggest that he is a centre-back that the club have their eyes on.

The Hoops need someone who can provide some much-needed experience and consistency to what is a young defence. That is exactly what Sviatchenko would be expected to bring to the table.

Yes, it is true that he is 29 years of age and would not be expected to leave the club for a big transfer fee in the future. But even then, he has already shown that he can perform in the Scottish game and the Hoops must definitely consider signing a player of his quality and experience if the opportunity was there.