Celtic have been after a right back for close to a year now, and they have been linked with plenty of names in the last two transfer windows. With the likes of Mikael Lustig and Cristian Gamboa in the final few months of their contract, the Hoops can lose both of them in the summer. Moreover, Jeremy Toljan is also just on loan so as things stand; the club is set to lose three right backs by the end of the season.
Therefore it is almost a no brainer that Celtic would look to sign a right-back or two in the upcoming summer transfer market. We have compiled a list of possible players they can target in the summer.
Timothy Castagne
Celtic were heavily linked with the Belgian in January, but the Atlanta defender stayed put in Italy. If reports from the Scottish Sun are to go by, the Hoops made a last-ditch effort in January to sign him by putting in an impressive bid of £8.8m. It is always tough to sign players in January as managers don’t want to sell their options midway through the season. Therefore we feel Celtic should once again target him in the summer.
Coming to the fees, yes it might look hefty, but Castagne is already a Belgian international and has been doing well in the Serie A. If Celtic want to hit a new level, then they need to shell out top money to bring in some top players. Castagne is equally adept at defending as well as attacking, and the Hoops can have a real long term solution to their right backs woes.
Mahlon Romeo
The Millwall defender has been linked with a move with Celtic’s Old Firm rivals Rangers, but we feel that the Hoops should join the race for this talented right back.
The 23-year-old is an established member of the Lions side, and his pace, work rate and defensive abilities are his strong points. He does need to improve on his attacking side slightly, but it is sometimes tough to judge a player who is often tested more defensively.
Martin Kelly
The Crystal Palace fullback has fallen down the pecking order after the emergence of Aaron Wan Bissaka. The former Liverpool defender can be another decent acquisition for the Hoops. With plenty of experience in the English top flight, Kelly is going to be a reliable option. Also, his versatility allows him to be used anywhere across the back four and Celtic can get an experienced fullback in this 28-year-old.
