Celtic should consider the Newcastle United centre-back.
By virtue of the fact that Newcastle United signed Florian Lejeune this summer, it might be fair to say that the Frenchman will partner Jamal Lascelles in the middle of Rafael Benitez’s defence on their return to the Premier League.
With that in mind, Ciaran Clark, Grant Hanley and Chancel Mbemba might have to settle for bit-part roles in the Magpies’ top-flight adventure next time around – and Celtic could and should enquire about the possibility of bringing Clark to Parkhead.
Celtic will need another centre-back after Dedryck Boyata was ruled out for three months, leaving Brendan Rodgers with Jozo Simunovic and Erik Sviatchenko as his best options.
Would Clark join the Scottish Premiership giants? He just might.
He helped Newcastle win promotion and deserves acknowledgement, having started 34 of 46 Championship games, but if he was good enough for the big time then he probably would’ve been snapped up by a club in the top tier when Aston Villa were relegated.
Plus, Premier League football is nothing new to the 27-year-old, who made 134 top-flight appearances during his seven-year stint with Villa. The excitement surrounding next season is probably not as intense for him as it is for someone who hasn’t played in the top division.
What would be new to him, however, is Champions League football – and European football in general. Does Clark want to not play in the Premier League next season, or potentially play six Champions League games and then possibly further outings in the Europa League?
He left Aston Villa for £5 million only last summer, so Newcastle wouldn’t let him go cheap, but at 27, Clark, who has won nothing in football, is coming into his peak years and Celtic would be wise to at least consider him.
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