Celtic need defensive help in the transfer market this summer.
Neil Lennon is in the box seat to become Celtic’s new permanent manager, having returned to the club as interim boss last month.
Lennon has been brought back to Parkhead as a temporary replacement for Brendan Rodgers, but most are now expecting the ex-Hibs boss to land the job permanently this summer.
If he does land the job, Lennon will run into a very early problem; a lack of quality options at centre back, given two imminent departures.
Dedryck Boyata will be a free agent this summer and surely won’t be staying, whilst Filip Benkovic is set to return to Leicester City at the end of his loan deal.
That means Celtic will be losing two star centre backs without receiving a penny, and bringing in an experienced defender who knows the Scottish game to help Kristoffer Ajer develop would be a smart move.
Back in 2010, Lennon’s first signing as Celtic boss was Charlie Mulgrew, bringing him back to Parkhead from Aberdeen, and the now-Blackburn ace should be on Lennon’s radar once again for that specific role of a wise head at the back.
The 33-year-old left Celtic after Rodgers’ appointment in 2016, but was a key player under Lennon, racking up more than 150 appearances for the Northern Irishman.
This season, Mulgrew has impressed in the Blackburn defence, and has continued to be a major threat going forward, scoring 10 goals in 27 games in a quite remarkable season, in which he has avoided those injury concerns which had plagued him previously.
Mulgrew wouldn’t break the bank, which is important given Boyata and Benkovic will be leaving without any income for the club, and having been so important for Lennon previously, bringing Mulgrew back to bring some stability to the Celtic defence may not be the worst idea in the world – even if fans would surely want a more exciting signing.
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