Stoke City’s Moritz Bauer was linked with Celtic last month.
Moritz Bauer’s season hasn’t quite gone to plan so far – but Stoke City boss Gary Rowett is adamant that there has been no feud with the reported Celtic target.
Bauer, 27, shone for Stoke following a January move from Rubin Kazan even with the Potters suffering relegation from the Premier League to the Championship.
The Austrian international earned fans with his attack-minded displays, showing real pace to get forward whether from right back or on the right of midfield, but whilst he was key under Paul Lambert, that hasn’t been the case under new boss Rowett.
Bauer has made just two league starts this season and was left out this weekend as he played in an Under-23 game against Aston Villa on Friday night, with his first-team exclusion continuing.
Some have wondered whether there has been a bust-up with Rowett, but the Stoke boss has now been quoted by the Stoke Sentinel as saying that there has been no rift, and he can’t believe the furore over his lack of game time.
“He has been very professional. He’s offered to play in those games, which I think shows a level of dedication, and that is the honest and truthful answer.” said Rowett. “I’ve had no real rift with Moritz. I felt that in the first two or three games of the season Moritz needed to defend better individually, that’s why he was taken out of the team, but I know he’s a good player and I know he can offer us a lot going forward, so I’ve been surprised as anyone really to see the furore around this situation,” he added.
Whilst there may not have been a row, it seems that Rowett isn’t quite convinced by Bauer just yet, and that should be of interest to Celtic, with the Daily Mail reporting last month that the Bhoys were interested in taking him to Glasgow.
Brendan Rodgers allegedly submitted an enquiry for Bauer and should remain keen, with his Stoke future far from settled even though he signed a new five-year contract over the summer.
With international and Premier League experience, Bauer would be a great replacement for the soon-to-be out of contract Mikael Lustig and Cristian Gamboa, possessing the attacking play Rodgers wants and he’s still of a good age – and if Stoke don’t give Bauer more playing time between now and January, Celtic must pounce for a deal which could be ideal for all.
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