According to a recent report by the Daily Record, reigning Premiership champions Celtic have been credited with an interest in acquiring the services of Paris Saint-Germain’s Dutch full-back Mitchel Bakker. The Scottish club have reportedly had an initial loan bid rejected by the Ligue 1 giants, who are well-aware of the lingering interest from across the English Channel. It has been suggested that the Celts remain keen on acquiring the Dutchman this summer, as Neil Lennon looks to strengthen his squad ahead of a tenth straight title bid this term.
Although the report has clarified that Celtic are interested in a loan move for PSG’s Mitchel Bakker, whether or not the Parisian outfit are willing to sanction the deal remains to be seen. The youngster first made the switch to last season’s European finalists prior to the start of the campaign, and the Hoops have seemingly identified him as a good option for the left-back role.
The speedster’s talents are undoubtedly what has caught the attention of Neil Lennon, who has reportedly placed the youngster on his wish-list for the summer as well.
What Is Celtic’s Current Left-Back Situation?
Defending has been Celtic’s main Achilles heel since the start of the season, and the recent acquisition of Shane Duffy from Brighton should go a long way towards them achieving a sense of added security at the back. A new concern for Neil Lennon that has seemingly emerged over recent weeks are the issues they’re facing in the left-back slot. Despite starting the campaign with two distinct options for the role, some unfortunate circumstances have led to Greg Taylor remaining as the only available choice.
Boli Bolingoli was brought in last summer as the Celts looked to add depth in all the positions. Although there were some good signs initially, the Belgian speedster was unable to really nail down a place in the team. Despite his struggles, Bolingoli was being given game time by Lennon every now and then. The defender, though, proceeded to break quarantine rules to make an unwarranted trip to Spain recently, which ended up putting the entire league at risk. His actions were received with massive criticism by the club and fans alike, and it would be surprising to see the Belgian ever play a game in a Celtic shirt again.
What Would Bakker Add To Neil Lennon’s Squad?
The youngster is a product of the renowned Ajax youth system, which means that he has undoubtedly got a bit of quality about him. Despite facing some competition, PSG were quick to snap him up in the summer, most probably in the hopes of him developing into a first-team quality player in the long run. Capable of bombarding forward and making his presence known in the attack, the Dutchman offers an extremely balanced set of attributes. Not only does he position himself efficiently, but the 20-year-old is a good tackler of the ball as well. Bakker was given his league debut by Thomas Tuchel last season, but four out of his five appearances in the season all came in cup competitions.
Celtic Are Interested In A Loan Move For PSG’s Mitchel Bakker: Should Lennon Go For It?
The Celts’ desire to strengthen in all areas of the pitch has been no secret, as they haven’t managed the greatest of starts to the league campaign. With Rangers still maintaining their place at the summit of the table, albeit having played a couple of extra fixtures, Celtic will need to pull up their socks in the coming months. Going into a league campaign with this much riding on it with just one left-back option could end up being suicidal. As unproven as Bakker is, the sheer fact that a club like PSG snapped him up from the Ajax academy highlights the quality he has got. Taylor is likely to remain as first-choice, but it wouldn’t hurt to have a back-up option ready in case of any emergencies.
