Scottish Premiership champions Celtic missed out on Rosenborg left-back Birger Meling – who could be on his way to the Premier League or Serie A.
Out of sight, out of mind.
With Boli Bolingoli ironing out the defensive kinks that had Celtic fans fretting about the capabilities of their new £3 million man, and with Greg Taylor finally making his mark in the Hoops, no one in the green half of Glasgow had uttered the name of ‘Birger Meling’ for a number of weeks.
It is no secret that Celtic were hoping to sign a jet-heeled left-back who they had come up against on a number of occasions in European clashes against Rosenborg in recent years.
The Glasgow Evening Times even claimed that Meling was set to be unveiled by The Hoops before their Europa League clash against AIK Stockholm at the end of August – only for a potential deal to fall through when the Norway international decided to stay in Scandinavia for the time being.
But with the January transfer window looming large, Meling is back in the gossip columns. The Mail believes that West Ham United are keen to bring the former Middlesbrough youngster to the Premier League while, according to Calciomercato, he’s also a target for Sampdoria and Champions League Atalanta.
And should Meling find himself flying down the flanks in the Premier League or in Europe’s premiere club competition after the turn of the year, it will be almost impossible for Celtic fans to ignore the existence of their one-that-got-away.
It’s all well and good Meling turning heads in Norway. After all, Scandinavian football barely registers on the radar of your average Glaswegian punter.
But the standard of clubs who are apparently interested heading into the festive period, from ambitious West Ham to an Atalanta side pushing Juventus and Inter Milan at the top of the Serie A table, speaks volumes about the potential of this 24-year-old left-back.
But hey, at least Bolingoli and Taylor have made a positive impression.
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