Scottish Premiership champions Celtic are reportedly hoping to sign Copenhagen’s Peter Ankersen and Rapid Vienna’s Boli Mbombo.
Nicky Hammond has a point to prove after being appointed as Celtic’s new director of football.
After all, Lee Congerton’s replacement was hardly a popular figure at West Bromwich Albion with many of the Baggies fans pointing the blame squarely at him after they were relegated from the Premier League in 2018.
A number of Hammond’s signings, from Oliver Burke to Daniel Sturridge, Nacer Chadli to Grzegorz Krychowiak, proved to be little more than expensive flops. So each and every one of the players he brings to Celtic over the next few weeks will be under added scrutiny.
But there will be few complaints if Hammond manages to bring in two new top-class full-backs for less than £6 million.
According to The Mail, Celtic are keen to sign Copenhagen’s Denmark international Mikael Ankersen as a replacement for Mikael Lustig at right-back. The three-time Superligaen champion will cost just £2.5 million.
Rapid Vienna’s Boli Mbombo is also a target for the opposite flank, according to The Mail, with the £3 million-rated flyer expected to either replace Kieran Tierney or provide competition for the fans’ favourite.
Mbombo, like Ankersen, is an established performer with European experience on his CV. Both players would be expected to walk straight into Neil Lennon’s starting XI and make a real difference right away.
And if Celtic secure both deals for just £5.5 million, Hammond will be one step closer to rebuilding his reputation.
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