Celtic defender, Sam Wardrop has agreed to join Dundee United ahead of the 2018/19 season, according to the Scottish Sun. The 20-year-old has found senior team football hard to come by under Brendan Rodgers and is seeking greener pastures.
He is coming off a loan spell with Scottish Championship outfit, Dumbarton, having featured in 27 games last season. He looked solid at the Sons backline but unfortunately suffered an ankle injury in early March.
Wardrop has showcased his skills in the second division and is capable of taking more responsibilities in the top-flight. He is set to be a part of the Terrors squad who themselves are fighting for promotion into the Premiership.
The right-back’s involvement in the Celtic squad would have been significantly scarce with players like Jack Hendry and Anthony Ralston breaking into the squad this season. Plus, the Bhoys are also blessed with the services of Mikael Lustig and Christian Gamboa in the squad, the former being a cemented starter under Rodgers.
Wardrop is a graduate of the Hoops youth academy and was once even the captain of the U20 side, leading them to the Scottish Final and beating Rangers FC. He has been capped plenty of times for the Scotland youth sides ranging from the U16s to the U19s.
He was highly regarded in the Celtic ranks due to his composure and defensive abilities. Dundee will be the ideal atmosphere for him to thrive at, not Parkhead. Celtic have prestigious names in the squad like Kristoffer Ajer, Dedryck Boyata, Marvin Comper and Jozo Simunovic.
The manager is planning to further bolster the position with a number of options lined up for the summer window. If anything, Wardrop would have dropped further down the pecking order rather than being given a chance to prove himself.
Instead, he will be taking command of the Tangerines backline and will be able to further develop himself into the player he promises to be. The irony in the matter is Wardrop’s predecessor in the United squad was Anthony Ralston.
Celtic are set to continue their dominance in the Scottish top-flight. The best way to keep that train running is taking care of the players that come out of the youth ranks and moving on the ones they do not need.
Read More: 21 Y/O Celtic Loanee Returns To Chelsea: Should Rodgers Look To Sign Him Permanently Now?
While some may feature in the club’s future, players like Wardrop often turn into surplus. For now, the Hoops would not be missing out on much with the players they already have at Glasgow.
