With just a few days remaining in the winter transfer period, Celtic are yet to solve their right back conundrum. Both their current right backs, Mikael Lustig and Cristian Gamboa are in the final six months of their contract and it is expected that the club would sign a new right back in the ongoing transfer period.
Former Celtic forward and club legend Chris Sutton believes (Daily Star) that the Hoops cans still sign a right back in this window and he also confirmed that the reigning Scottish champions are looking for a right back. He was quoted as saying, “I think Celtic want a right back. I know they want a right back. That’s an area they’ll be looking to strengthen.”
We believe Rodgers should look at one of his former player to replace someone like Lustig and Martin Kelly of Crystal Palace seems a very attainable target. Ever since the emergence of Aaron Wan Bissaka, the former Liverpool fullback has struggled for game time and Kelly has made just four appearances in the Premier League this season.
The 28-year-old right back is in the final six months of his contract and it seems unlikely to us that the Eagles would offer him a new deal. Therefore the Hoops can get him on a bargain if they decide to target him in the next few days.
The right-back came up from the Liverpool academy and was considered as a massive talent when he broke into the first team. Kelly though was unable to make the cut and was later transferred to Palace in 2014. The fullback was a constant feature down the right-hand side of the defence and has over 100 appearances for the Eagles. However, it seems clear that he has fallen down the pecking order now. The Englishman also has a senior appearance for the Three Lions.
One of the major advantages of signing Kelly would be that he can play anywhere across the back four. His experience of playing in the English top flight would also make him a big asset for the Hoops. Given Lustig’s performances this season, Celtic needs to go all out to replace him in this window. Kelly is a defensively solid right back who still has some good years of football left in him.
During his Liverpool days, Rodgers had mentioned Kelly as a ‘quality player’ (Sky Sports) and he would definitely be an upgrade over Lustig who is 33 now. With Kelly’s current situation at Selhurst Park, Rodgers can definitely target his former player to bring him to Parkhead.
