According to the latest reports from Bristol Post, Celtic are in the mix to sign Iranian international Milad Mohammadi on a free transfer in the summer. This is not the first time that the Hoops have been linked with this fullback as rumours of Celtic being interested in him have done the rounds since the past year. Along with the Hoops, English clubs like Bristol City and Fulham are also said to be interested.
The fullback currently plies his trade for Russian outfit Akhmat Grozny and the fact that he will be out of contract soon makes him an interesting target for quite a few clubs. The name Mohammadi might not instantly ring a bell, but the Iranian is known for his failed acrobatic throw-in attempt in the World Cup game against Spain in 2018.
Why does Celtic need to sign fullbacks?
Predominantly a left back, Mohammadi can plays as a right back as well when required. The defender is known for his ambidexterity, and that is the reason why he can handle himself on either of the flanks. As things stand, Celtic can lose Emilio Izaguirre, Mikael Lustig and Cristian Gamboa in the summer as all three are going to be out of a contract. Jeremy Toljan’s loan spell is also set to expire so there could be a full-blown crisis in the fullback position for the Bhoys.
To go with all that, Kieran Tierney will continue to draw plenty of interest in the transfer market and heavyweight clubs can come in for him with an offer which could be tough for Celtic to turn down. Therefore it is essential for the Hoops to get to the task of finding fullbacks for the next season.
Mohammadi’s strengths
Mohammadi is an attack-minded fullback who loves to bomb forward at every opportunity. The 25-year-old has played in advanced roles down the left as well in his career. The Iranian international has blistering pace which could trouble quite a few Premiership defenders. His versatility to play on both the flanks will also be a significant asset for Lennon.
Can Celtic beat their competition?
Fulham are destined to go down to the Championship and barring a major miracle; Bristol City are also going to miss out on the playoff berth. There is no doubt that Celtic is a more attractive destination than the English second tier. Mohammadi can get a chance to play in European competition with Celtic. On a free transfer, Lennon should go all out to secure the Iranian international’s signature.
