Morecambe are working on a deal to sign Osaze Urhoghide in a half-season loan transfer, after intermediaries alerted boss Stephen Robinson to the Celtic defender’s availability.
That’s according to the Daily Record, who report former Motherwell boss Robinson is keen to strengthen the Mazuma Stadium ranks. He took charge of the Shrimps last June, after Derek Adams quit three-days after the Lancashire side secured promotion into League One.
But life in the English third-tier has proven hard for Morecambe, who are now fighting the threat of relegation. The Shrimps are 21st in the 24-team table after 24 games, having won six times to 13 defeats. They have also conceded 49 goals, more than any other side so far.
Morecambe have also only kept one clean sheet in their last 14 league fixtures to sit inside the relegation zone. But Robinson’s men are only two-points from Fleetwood and safety.
So, Robinson wants to sign Celtic defender Urhoghide on loan during the January transfer window to strengthen Morecambe’s survival hopes. The 21-year-old centre-back has rarely featured under Ange Postecoglou since moving to Parkhead in a free transfer last summer.
Celtic boss Postecoglou open to Urhoghide loan transfer amid Morecambe interest
Postecoglou has so far only given Urhoghide one first-team appearance with a starting role against Real Betis in December. The Bhoys were already out of all European competitions before the 3-2 win, in which the Sheffield Wednesday product also featured at right-back.
Urhoghide has not featured in any of Celtic’s last 15 Premiership matchday squads, either. He has only sat on the bench during three league games, and may now return to England.
Morecambe boss Robinson is aware that Postecoglou is happy for Urhoghide to leave Celtic in a loan transfer this month. The Hoops chief stated during November that he would speak with the youngster over his situation if the right opportunities remained out-of-reach.
Urhoghide will hope a temporary transfer to League One with Morecambe offers far more minutes than at Celtic this season. He featured in 16 Championship fixtures with Sheffield Wednesday last term, in which the Owls kept three clean sheets.
Hillsborough boss Darren Moore also lauded Urhoghide and wanted the defender to sign a new contract. He said last March, via quotes by The Star:
“I don’t like to pick out individuals because I thought they were all excellent [at Barnsley]. But he was immense today in terms of his performance. In terms of his contacts, in terms of getting in the radar of the opponents and spoiling it – he was absolutely rock solid.
“The back-three will take plaudits, and it was a team effort. But if you’re looking at him as an individual, I thought his performance was solid today.”
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