Celtic have agreed a deal with Valerenga to sign Odin Thiago Holm for around £2.5 million with one former Hoops star indicating that the youngster would ‘bring something new to the table’ at Parkhead.
Harald Brattback comparing the Celtic bound Holm with Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard may be more to do with the fact that both players made their name back home in Norway as a baby-faced teen, thrown in at the deep end and expected to sink rather than swim.
Holm forced his way into the Valerenga first team at the age of just 17, after all.
But that is not the only reason why Norway U20 international can be likened to a man who joined Arsenal from Real Madrid to the tune of £30 million. Holm is not quite as attack-minded as Odegaard; he prefers to do his best work in a more deep-lying role. But he certainly shares the Gunners skipper’s penchant for a defence-splitting pass, while his balletic footwork and silky movement could make a rumoured £2.5 million price-tag a bargain.
“You can see that he has got potential. Compared to say, a Martin Odegaard, maybe he has the same potential. u could see he would become really good (from the age of 15),” Brattback, a 1998 Scottish Premiership champion with Celtic, tells the Daily Record.
“With Holm, it is a bit different. It is always exciting to see when players move if they are able to reach the next level. He’s exciting, and he’s been consistently good. He is one of those players who are still young, but also good.”
Celtic close in on Odin Thiago Holm
TV2 report that Celtic and Valerenga have now agreed a deal. Holm, who legally changed his name to ‘Thiago’ due to his admiration for the now-Liverpool playmaker, should undergo a medical in Scotland over the coming days (Nettavisen).
“I would say he is more attacking than defensive,” Brattback adds. “Certainly, his work ethic is really good. He runs a lot. (He) is one of those players who you don’t see all of the time during games, but he is right behind you backing you up or he is just in front of you taking charge.
“I think he would bring something new to the table.”
Whoever replaces Ange Postecoglou at Celtic – be it Brendan Rodgers, Jesse Marsch or another – will be under pressure to balance domestic and European exploits in 2022/23. Brattback, meanwhile, feels that Holm will add further depth to a Celtic squad which could be stretched thin by a hectic fixture schedule.
“You have the two cups, the league and Europe. That could be many games,” he adds.
“On the (Manchester City) bench (for the Champions League final), you had Foden, Walker, Laporte, Alvarez, Mahrez. You could put any of them into the team and you wouldn’t notice a difference. That might be what the likes of Holm could do in a Celtic squad. He could just fill that puzzle with a piece that would fit and would add to the squad.”
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