Ange Postecoglou’s Celtic are prioritising a left-back, a right-winger and a ball-playing centre-half in the summer transfer window, according to The Athletic.
If 2021 was the year of revolution at Parkhead, then ‘evolution’ could become the buzzword of 2022.
In stark contrast to last summer, when Celtic looked like a team in desperate need of an overhaul both on and off the pitch, incremental gains and minor tweaks are the order of the day this time around.
Postecoglou has re-constructed a crumbling kingdom from the ground up. Now, all that’s required is a lick of fresh paint.
According to The Athletic, Celtic’s transfer plans revolve around strengthening three key positions; Centre-half, left-back and right-wing.
The report adds that this is not dependant on whether Cameron Carter-Vickers and Filipe Jota, who have shone on loan from Tottenham Hotspur and Benfica but are yet to be tied down to permanent deals, stay for another season on the green side of Glasgow.
Who will be Celtic’s three new faces?
Greg Taylor, a player who appeared to symbolise the mediocrity of Neil Lennon’s second spell at the helm, has come on leaps and bounds under Postecoglou.
The Scot’s lengthy spell on the sidelines before Christmas highlighted the lack of alternatives available to Celtic, however, with Josip Juranovic more effective on the right and youngsters Adam Montgomery and Liam Scales far from the finished article.
According to The Sun, Celtic see Mohanad Jeahze, Hammarby’s £2 million-rated Iraq international, as someone capable of competing with Taylor on the left-hand side. The buccaneering Jeahze, who has been labelled the best left-back in Sweden, would offer more attacking thrust in comparison to the solid if unspectacular Taylor.
Callum Styles, recently relegated with Barnsley, has also been linked.
Celtic’s pursuit of a new right winger, meanwhile, may raise questions about James Forrest’s future. The long-serving forward is out of contract in 2023 and has fallen behind Liel Abada in Postecoglou’s pecking order.
Diminutive Iranian playmaker Mehdi Ghayedi can play on the right but is arguably most effective on the other flank.
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The most likely acquisition may be Ole Solbakken, a skilful forward who shone against Celtic during their UEFA Conference League thumping at the hands of Bodo/Glimt (Record).
Solbakken, who has eight goals this term, could cost just £1.6 million with his contract expiring in December.
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