Celtic may face a battle hanging onto Carl Starfelt this summer with clubs in England and across Europe keen on one of Ange Postecoglou’s Scottish Premiership champions.
As Hoops legend Chris Sutton points out, via his Daily Record column, Starfelt’s reputation often precedes him. Unfairly so.
The ‘error prone’ label is a difficult one to shake off. And, while Starfelt has gone about his business in commanding and consistent style this season, reports suggesting that he could leave Parkhead for club south of the border will undoubtedly raise eyebrows amongst those who’s only exposure to the Sweden international is via Twitter gifs and heavily-edited ‘fail comps’.
Premier League clubs like Celtic’s Carl Starfelt
“Starfelt is an absolute giant in Ange Postecoglou’s backline,” Sutton argues. “(He is) due a whole load more credit than he gets from outside that dressing room.
“The Swedish international is every bit as important to Celtic’s defence as (Cameron) Carter-Vickers.
“He came good last season, and he and Carter-Vickers have that astonishing record of never losing a game together when starting as a pair in the top flight.
“Starfelt’s second-half performance with his back-to-the-wall in last-season’s title-clinching 2-1 win over Rangers at Ibrox 12 months ago was magnificent. Towering.
“No offence to Moritz Jenz, but Celtic were nowhere near as solid when he was having to cover for Starfelt in the first half of this term. Goals were being shipped. But the whole thing has tightened up significantly since the Swede got back up to full fitness following the World Cup in Qatar.”
According to Sky Sports, Starfelt’s vast improvements over the last 12 months or so have not gone unnoticed. Various clubs from England and abroad are reportedly interested.
Celtic paid £4 million to sign the soon-to-be 28-year-old from Russian outfit Rubin Kazan during the summer of 2021 and, with two years remaining on his contract, the Glasgow would undoubtedly bring in a sizeable profit if Starfelt did head for the exit.
‘Outstanding’
Postecoglou, meanwhile, shares Sutton’s view of a man who has now claimed a Premiership winners’ medal in both of his season in green-and-white.
“Internally, he certainly does get recognition,” Postecoglou said in January, admitting that Starfelt is maybe underappreciated outside of Parkhead.
“Carl has been a cornerstone of our team since pretty much the day he arrived last year.
“I guess he is a bit understated in the way he plays the game. He rarely gets beaten. He is always in the right areas and contributing both to our attack and our defence.
“And that is a credit to him, and to Cameron Carter-Vickers. They have a very good understanding and complement each other really well. But I think our whole defensive work since the break has been outstanding.”
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