Celtic’s transfer plans have certainly picked up pace recently. The club had already signed Liam Shaw and Osaze Urhoghide from Sheffield Wednesday. Since then, they have announced the signings of Liel Abada, Kyogo Furuhashi and Bosun Lawal as well.
But if the recent pre-season performances have shown anything, it is that this team still needs strengthening in several more positions over the course of the summer transfer window.
Centre-back is one such position. Kristoffer Ajer appears to be headed out of Parkhead in the near future, which would leave Christopher Jullien, Stephen Welsh and Urhoghide as the only recognised centre-backs at the club.
As a result, the Hoops are expected to strengthen in the position as soon as possible and have been linked with several centre-backs from all around Europe. Carl Starfelt is someone who has appeared to be closing in on a €5 million move to Parkhead recently and it does look like that will happen, although an official announcement is going to take some time. Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano tweeted out:
Carl Starfelt will join Celtic on a permanent deal from Rubin Kazan, the deal is done and confirmed. No doubt. €5m fee for the centre back. ⚪️🟢 #Celtic
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 17, 2021
It’s gonna take some days for the official announcement to complete the process - but it’s done. 🏴🤝 https://t.co/8AK8dFaMlZ
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Starfelt could be a good fit for Celtic
Starfelt has been very impressive in recent times. He currently plays for Rubin Kazan, who finished fourth in the Russian Premier League last season and had one of the best defences in the competition.
Starfelt is a ball playing centre-back. He also is good when it comes to defensive duels and is great at not giving away fouls, although his aerial ability might be a bit of a worry for the Hoops, who have had their worries defending set pieces in recent times already. But overall, he could be a very good fit in Ange Postecoglou’s system and a signing that the fans should be excited about.
Many would have been hoping for the move to go through quickly, so that Starfelt could be a part of the first leg of the Hoops’ Champions League second round qualifier against FC Midtjylland. But it does not look like that will be the case.