Former Celtic hero Kris Commons has concerns about both Alexandro Bernabei and Carl Sterfelt with the defensive duo struggling during the 3-0 Old Firm derby defeat to Rangers.
With another Premiership title in the bag, Ange Postecoglou took the opportunity to shuffle his pack and give a few fringe players the chance to impress during Saturday’s trip to Ibrox. He may wish he’d never bothered.
A £3.7 million Celtic signing from Argentine outfit Lanus; Bernabei will not have had Greg Taylor fearing for his place with a performance about as raw as a Hells’ Kitchen lamb shank.
Starfelt, meanwhile, found himself embroiled in a horror mix-up in the lead to Fashion Sakala’s second-half clincher, even if most of the blame was shouldered by the usually-reliable Callum McGregor.
Starfelt, according to Postecoglou himself, remains underrated on Scottish soil. But the Swede still has a habit of getting himself into situations like this; a number of high-profile errors blighting his time in green-and-white.
Celtic lose Old Firm derby 3-0 at Rangers
“When you look at centre-backs who have excelled for Celtic over the past 20 years or so,” Commons tells the Daily Mail. “Virgil van Dijk will always be viewed as the gold standard.
“I played with Van Dijk and saw him at close quarters. He cruised through the SPFL for a couple of seasons. And he’s since gone on to become one of the best centre-backs in world football.
“Even going back further to Martin O’Neill’s Bhoys of Seville, you had the likes of Bobo Balde, Johan Mjallby and Joos Valgaeren. Three absolutely colossal figures at the back. Carter-Vickers could hold his own in that sort of company, but not Starfelt.
“If Celtic want to progress in Europe, I still think there’s a slight weakness in one of the centre-backs. One that could be improved and upgraded.”
According to Sky Sports, Starfelt – a £4.3 million addition from Rubin Kazan during Postecoglou’s first few months at the helm – has admirers both in the Premier League and across Europe. Yuki Kobayashi, the latest in a long line of Far East additions, could be a readymade replacement in the left-sided centre-back role.
FC Volendam’s Xavier Mbuyamba is also a summer target.
‘A disappointing signing’
As for Bernabei? Well, it would be unfair to write off the 22-year-old after just one season in-and-out of Postecoglou’s XI. Then again, given the fee, Commons is not alone in expecting more.
“Let’s not pretend Starfelt was alone in that regard on Saturday. There were several players in the Celtic team who did themselves no favours at all,” he adds. “Alexandro Bernabei has been a disappointing signing thus far.
“Celtic paid £3.75million to sign him from Argentina last summer. But it’s Taylor who has ended up having an outstanding season.
“(Taylor) has rightly kept Bernabei out of the team.”
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