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Dael Fry’s Middlesbrough display shows why Celtic need him

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Scottish Premiership champions Celtic are reportedly keen to sign England U21 defender Dael Fry, who’s shining for Championship chasers Boro.

Dael Fry of England inspect the pitch prior to the 2019 UEFA European Under-21 Championship Qualifier match between Scotland U21 and England U21 at Tynecastle Stadium on October 16, 2018...

If Celtic wanted Dael Fry before this weekend, their interest in the England U21 international will only have been piqued further with his display on Saturday.

According to TEAMtalk, Celtic are rivalling a number of Premier League clubs, including Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea and Liverpool, for the 21-year-old defender who has forced his way into the Middlesbrough starting XI this season.

Now, Celtic’s issues at central defence have been well documented for a while now and Fry looks like a welcome addition with the future of both Dedryck Boyata and Filip Benkovic, who could be re-called by Leicester City in January, up in the air.

Fry is a solid, reliable centre-back who also has the ability to stride forward and start attacks from deep, meaning he looks like the blueprint of a Brendan Rodgers defender, after all.

But could the youngster also solve another of Celtic’s problems – their ongoing issue at right-back? It is no secret that Rodgers wants a long-term successor for long-serving Mikael Lustig with Iranian international Milad Mohammadi one of a number of targets, according to the Sun.

Dael Fry of Middlesborough controls the ball during the The Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round match between Middlesbrough v Brighton and Hove Albion at Riverside Stadium on January 27, 2018 in...

Though the fact that Fry started, and shone, at right-back during Middlesbrough’s 2-1 away win at Brentford this weekend shouldn’t pass Celtic by. Not only did he look right at home, he set up Marcus Tavernier’s winner with a glorious cross from the right.

Dael Fry could well be the answer to two of Celtic’s biggest problems.

Dael Fry of Middlesbrough during the Sky Bet Championship Play Off Semi Final:Second Leg match between Aston Villa and Middlesbrough at Villa Park on May 15, 2018 in Birmingham, England.