Defender transfer is now “very hard” for Celtic to get done after initial Bhoys approach

The Celtic defensive line is undoubtedly an area of the team that could do with strengthening during the current transfer window.

A little bit of talent has to come in to support Rodgers’ alternatives because there is no competition for Greg Taylor and the futures of Yuki Kobayashi, Stephen Welsh, Gustaf Lagerbielke, and Maik Nawrocki are all in doubt.

To be fair, it appears like the club and Brendan Rodgers are aware of that. Hugo Bueno and Owen Beck, two left backs, have reportedly been linked to the team, and it is also rumored that the team is searching for a new center back.

Dara O’Shea, a Burnley resident, was one of those primary choices. Last month, Scottish media said that after Brendan Rodgers designated him as a target, Celtic had contacted the English team.

From those early rumors, not much happened, and it appears that O’Shea will now be moving somewhere else.

According to Graeme Bailey, a transfer correspondent at HITC, Burnley is expected to profit handsomely from the £7 million they paid for the Republic of Ireland international. As they prepare a second bid, Brentford is expected to be the most likely destination.

After reading about O’Shea’s progress in the context of Celtic reports from the previous month, 67 Hail Hail reached out to Bailey to find out more details.

“Despite Burnley’s difficulties, O’Shea had a very good first season in the Premier League, and I think once that happened, it was only going to be very hard for Celtic,” he told us.

“Celtic has long been interested, but the player is staying in England. From what I understand, he will probably sign with Brentford within the next week, who have done their research on him.”

The Scottish champions are essentially out of the running due to their high price. Despite having the resources at their disposal, Celtic don’t seem to be prepared to spend eight figures on transactions.

With six central defenders already on the roster, it seems unlikely that Celtic will wish to bring in a seventh. That might entail changing a few of the ancillary options prior to authorizing a relocation for an additional arrival.

Fans who want to see players on the field that are on par with or better than starting eleven will understandably find this upsetting, but Rodgers is stuck in this scenario.

We’ll have to wait and see how things work out over the next several weeks, as Celtic presumably has other candidates in mind for the post.

KV Mechelen has recently expressed interest in the 24-year-old. Nevertheless, Celtic turned down a Jupiler Pro League team’s offer and stated that he isn’t available at this point in the window.

It’s still reported that Brendan Rodgers is evaluating his defensive line. Interest is being shown in Yuki Kobayashi and Gustaf Lagerbielke, while Maik Nawrocki might be permitted to go on loan under certain conditions.

The starting center defensive duo for Celtic is Cameron Carter-Vickers and Liam Scales. According to sources, Welsh might end up as the third in command in the event that others go.

To be honest, Welsh’s Celtic career seems to have circled back on itself a bit. He has drawn interest from Toulouse, Udinese, Bologna, and Hellas Verona in prior transfer windows, so this summer’s window isn’t the first one.

Because of his talent, the Scot has many of suitors, including those in Major League Soccer and the English Championship. Despite his prominence, he hasn’t played a regular role for the Bhoys because of injuries.

Welsh has made just 44 appearances for Celtic in the last three seasons. He’s a reliable homegrown option at Parkhead who seldom fails when called upon, but he’s in a difficult situation and doesn’t seem like a first choice anytime soon.

There is a school of thinking that suggests he go for a new challenge somewhere and take control of his own destiny. On the other hand, he inked a new deal last year that runs through the summer of 2027, which presents a problem.

Welsh is a Celtic player, so they are not under any obligation to sell, and three years is a good length for a contract to work from. He will undoubtedly continue to be a valuable asset even if their defensive framework is examined closely.

The Coatbridge native will hopefully be able to avoid injuries and continue following a tough two years in which he has failed to make a significant impact on the team.