According to the latest reports from Sky Sports, Celtic are interested in signing Arsenal’s Carl Jenkinson. However, Championship outfit West Bromwich Albion have already opened up talks with the England international. The defender is said to be keen on a move as he played only eight games for Arsenal in all competitions.
The right-back is available on a free contract, and the signing club only needs to agree on the personal terms with the player. The Hoops desperately need to add options in the right-back spot as regular first team player Mikael Lustig is set to join Belgian heavyweights Gent.
Along with the Swedish defender, Neil Lennon is also going to lose the services of Jeremy Toljan who joined on loan and Cristian Gamboa whose contract is also expiring. Therefore as many as three right backs are set to leave the club, and the Hoops need to jump in the transfer market to solve this problem.
Celtic have been linked with plenty of right backs in the last year or so, but no move has materialised as of now. Now with West Brom opening up talks with the 27-year-old, it seems like even Jenkinson might slip away from Celtic’s grasp.
Should Lennon step up his pursuit?
Celtic’s right back situation is so dire that they might even hand someone from the academy the chance to play as a right back. 20-year-old Anthony Ralson is the only option at the club who has made only a handful of senior team appearances. Jenkinson has spent the past few years in the wilderness, but on a free transfer, we think that he is worth taking a punt. The defender is still 27 and has a good amount of football left in him.
What will he bring to Celtic squad?
Modern day football’s attacking demands from a fullback is one of the reasons why Jenkinson never managed to fulfil his true potential. The Arsenal player struggled in the attacking half of the pitch. However, he is defensively solid and can hold his own at the back. He can deliver some decent crosses as well, but he sure isn’t at the level of Arsenal. Jenkinson is also known to have a reasonable work rate, so expect him to work hard when he is on the pitch.
Celtic should definitely try to persuade the one time England international. Lennon would hope that the chance to play European football and win trophies might make him turn towards Parkhead instead of the Hawthorns.
