According to a recent report by renowned journalist Gianluca Di Marzio, Italian giants Juventus are said to be looking to cash in on some of their fringe players this summer. One of the names that has been touted to be sold is Italian international defender Mattia De Sciglio. The former AC Milan man is seemingly surplus to requirements at Juventus, and the Serie A champions are apparently looking to cash in on the speedster. While a player of his experience and quality will interest a lot of teams, the price could be a concern for a majority of them.
The report has then gone on to claim that Celtic are interested in signing Juventus’ Mattia De Sciglio. Although Neil Lennon’s side are reportedly keen on the Italian, whether or not he chooses to make the switch across the channel remains to be seen. It has been claimed that the defender isn’t overly intrigued by the prospect of moving to Scotland. Celtic’s desire to sign the 27-year-old is understandable, especially considering their massive ambitions for what is sure to be an important season in their history.
What Is Celtic’s Current Situation In The Full-Back Role?
The Celts boast the strongest roster in the entirety of the Premiership, but isolating their full-backs would mean that they get trumped by various other sides. Although this isn’t directly related to the quality of their first-choice options, the lack of alternatives is sure to come as a concern.
Boli Bolingoli was a highly-rated Belgian defender who was forced out of the club after the early-season debacle. The speedster broke quarantine rules and made an illicit trip to Spain, on the back of which the club decided that he wasn’t in their plans for the season.
This leaves Greg Taylor as the only left-back option in the entire squad. If the defender were to pick up an unfortunate injury at some point in the season, Neil Lennon wouldn’t have any natural options to turn to. In the right-back slot as well, Jeremie Frimpong remains the only realistic option. Although Hatem Elhamed has been utilised there in the past, depending on the centre-half to fill in down the flank in a tougher match would be like asking for trouble as well.
What Makes De Sciglio A Good Option For Celtic?
The Italian defender has been around the highest level of the European scene for a while now. Upon arrival, he would instantly become one of the most experienced heads in the entire Celtic roster. The former AC Milan academy graduate has played in 39 fixtures for the Italian national side, and at one point, was one of the most sought after defenders in European football. Capable of playing on either side of the defence, De Sciglio would be a quite sensational signing for the reigning Scottish champions.
Celtic Are Interested In Signing Juventus’ Mattia De Sciglio: Smart Move For Lennon?
The Italian defender has the quality required to carry this Celtic defence to the next level, while also possessing the experience required to lead from the front. Still only 27-years-old, the Juventus man has the best days of his career ahead of him as well. With Celtic hunting their tenth straight league title, having a complete squad is as important as anything. Going into the campaign with just one natural option in either full-back roles would be suicidal. De Sciglio would address all of these issues in one move, and if they’re able to get it done, it would have to be considered quite the coup.
