RB Salzburg hand defensive transfer boost to Celtic

Celtic continue to look for new signings to add quality to their squad. Another centre-back is likely to be high on their summer wish list. Now one of their rumoured transfer targets for the position looks even more likely to make a move to a new club. While that is potentially good news, it highlights a dilemma and a problem at the same time.

The current central defenders in the Celtic squad leave Brendan Rodgers with a problem. It is clear that there is a gap alongside Cameron Carter-Vickers in the back four which can be filled better.

Liam Scales did an unexpectedly good job there last season and deserves his fair share of credit. But he is often caught out there when up against better players. 

The club have made several signings to try and improve the position but without real success. Gustaf Lagerbielke and Yuki Kobayashi look to be on their way out. Maik Nawrocki and Stephen Welsh have had opportunities but failed to convince.

RB Salzburg hand defensive transfer boost to Celtic

One player Celtic are said to have an interest in is Flavius Daniliuc. He has most recently been on loan at RB Salzburg, with a buyout clause included in the deal, from Italian club Salernitana.

But as reported by TuttoSalernitana, RB Salzburg did not redeem the option for ​​Daniliuc. He will therefore return to Salernitana at the end of his loan.

On the face of it, Daniluic looks to be a decent centre-back. Though there is a question mark over why RB Salzburg have decided not to take up the buyout option.

We may get to see more of Daniluic with Austria at Euro 2024 and make our minds up. For now, he does fit the usual Celtic recruitment profile at 23 years of age and with potential. If it all went well he could bring in a higher transfer fee in two to three years than the figure around €5 million or so it might take to sign him from Salernitana right now.

But that is where the dilemma lies. It’s very much the same profile that saw the club sign Nawrocki, Scales, Lagerbielke and Kobayashi. Perhaps this summer, with Champions League football to consider, Celtic should look to sign more experienced and proven players.