With Ange Postecoglou arriving in Glasgow, it looks like Celtic’s summer transfer plans are starting to pick up pace. And it is centre-backs that they appear to be trying to sign first.
Defence was a massive worry for the Hoops last season as the players at the back struggled for both form and fitness. And now, with Kristoffer Ajer being linked with a summer exit as well, it would not be surprising to see them sign a centre-back or two over the course of the summer.
In fact, they already have done so by bringing in Osaze Urhoghide from Sheffield Wednesday. And have been heavily linked with Hajduk Split’s Mario Vuskovic as well, who is rated at around £5 million. But it looks like they are set to make a transfer bid for another centre-back as well.
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano tweeted out that Celtic have been in direct contact to negotiate personal terms and are set to submit an opening transfer bid for Rubin Kazan’s Carl Starfelt:
Celtic are in direct contact to negotiate personal terms with Swedish centre back Carl Starfelt as potential Ajer replacement. Opening bid set to be made to Rubin Kazan and talks now started. ⚪️🟢 #Celtic #RubinKazan
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 6, 2021
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Starfelt could be a solid signing for Celtic
The 26-year-old Swede joined Rubin Kazan back in the summer of 2019 and had a very impressive 2020/21 season with them, as they finished 4th in the Russian Premier League. And as a result, Starfelt appears to have caught the eye of the Hoops.
Now, it will be interesting to see what this means for the Vuskovic move, which has appeared to be getting closer in recent days but is not over the line yet.
With Vuskovic being 19 years of age himself, could the club decide to bring in both, with Starfelt serving as the more experienced option out of the two.
Experience is something that the backline lacks at the moment. If Ajer was to leave, it would leave Christopher Jullien, Stephen Welsh and Osaze Urhoghide as the only recognised centre-backs at the club. And the Frenchman did spend the majority of the previous campaign on the sidelines due to injuries. Thus, it would not be a bad idea for the club to sign someone like Starfelt even if they ended up signing Vuskovic.