Scottish Premiership champions Celtic reportedly want Omar Elabdellaoui from Greek giants Olympiakos as Mikael Lustig’s replacement.
A new right-back is absolutely priceless at Celtic. So surely The Hoops would have no concerns about paying £4 million for a defender capable of stepping into the shoes of eight-time Scottish Premiership champion Mikael Lustig, not just now but for years to come.
According to the Daily Mail (17 August, back page), Norway international Omar Elabdellaoui could be on his way to Celtic from Olympiakos. All The Hoops need to do is stump up £4 million and, the report claims, the Greek giants will be ready to cash in.
A quick glance at the stats shows exactly what Elabdellaoui would bring to Celtic.
In 31 games, the former Manchester City and Hull flyer produced five goals and seven assists from the right-hand flank. He’s quick, dynamic and attack-minded with the end product to back it up.
At just 27, Elabdellaoui has plenty of time on his side too and he should provide the energy that an ageing Lustig struggled to give during a difficult final two years in Glasgow. This is not just a signing for now but for the future too.
Paying £4 million wouldn’t merely strengthen Celtic’s starting XI and provide Neil Lennon with some much-needed depth and quality ahead of what promises to be a gruelling campaign. Elabdellaoui has the longevity and the potential to be Celtic’s number one right-back for five or six years.
Suddenly, £4 million doesn’t seem like a lot of money at all.
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