It has been revealed that Celtic have offered a pre-contract to RB Leipzig midfielder Xaver Schlager, who is out of contract in the summer.
The German club announced on Friday that the 28-year-old would be leaving the club at the end of the season after he turned down a new contract. After three-and-a-half years in the Bundesliga, the Austrian international wants a new challenge.
Fans of Leipzig are upset by the announcement. One supporter made their feelings known in the comments of the post on X, saying that they only want to see him on the bench for the rest of the campaign.
A majority are upset that the club helped him through multiple injuries, and this is how he has repaid them for their patience. They have also noted that he has had a declining performance curve, which could be a point of concern for the Celts.
Celtic will have to fight for his signature
Let's hope that the Hoops hierarchy is ready for a fight, because that's what will have to happen if they want to secure Schlager's services.
The midfielder will have plenty of options. There is already interest from Italian giants Juventus, so it won't be long before they make a move, especially with the news that Celtic have acted quickly. Clubs in England are also showing interest.
Schlager would be an incredible player for the Hoops. He offers something that could take the club to another level.
As a midfielder, he is very energetic and has an incredible work rate. He covers ground well and is comfortable in both defensive and transitional phases; there is no doubt he'll work hard for the full 90 minutes. He is known for being a physical player who loves to press, and that's exactly the defensive tactics that Celtic fans would love to see under the next manager.
He is also an experienced international approaching 50 caps for his country. That gives him a level of experience at a high level, and one that would undoubtedly help Celtic on big European stages.
Although there are plenty of positives, there are also some negative points to consider. He has an injury history that should be looked at, as he has missed 829 days through injury across his senior career. With that being said, Celtic have managed to keep Kieran Tierney from being out for extended periods of time since he came back to the Scottish champions, so it seems we can do anything.
Celtic will also have to compete with massive clubs for his signature. Of course, the Hoops are also in that bracket of "massive", but there is no doubt that other outfits can offer a much higher salary than we would be able to. That may be what sways the midfielder in the end.
This would be another signing that the board would love. If Celtic landed Schlager, there is no doubt that the Hoops would be able to move him on for a very large fee later down the line. As the interest in him shows, he is clearly wanted by clubs all around Europe. That could be a massive asset for Celtic to have on their books.
Where would he fit in?
Adding Schlager to the team would be massive. In the 4-3-3 formation, he would offer more defensive contribution, which would take a massive weight off the shoulders of captain Callum McGregor. Because he doesn't go too far up the pitch, he would also allow a player like Benjamin Nygren or Arne Engels to offer more in terms of creativity and attacking output.
He would lead the press, which is great because McGregor wouldn't be pulled out of position. This would allow the captain to continue controlling the tempo of the match. Because of Schlager's amazing pressing, we would be able to win the ball high up the pitch and trap the opposition in their own half.
This is all down to how the next manager chooses to deploy Schlager though. If we secure the midfielder and the system isn't right for him, then we may not be able to bring out the best in him.
But the reason Celtic may be so interested in Schlager? The player would take a lot of pressure off of McGregor.
Now 32, McGregor is a leader and a legend. He always gives 100% in a Celtic shirt and even gave up Scotland international duty so he could give his all for the club. At times though, it does seem he is being stretched thin. That is why a signing like Schlager could be exactly what we need to keep McGregor at his best.