Opinion – Celtic needs a quality centre-back summer signing | OneFootball

Brendan Rodgers is currently looking for new attacking options for next season, but a new centre back is also needed…

It’s well documented that we need new faces in the attacking area of the squad, and with Benjamin Nygren and Callum Osmand due to put pen to paper with another few also in the pipeline then we should be well sorted in that area.

Next up to be strengthened is the centre of defence. Gustaf Lagerbielke and Stephen Welsh are most likely moving on with doubts also surrounding the future of Maik Nawrocki, so that would leave us with just Cameron Carter-Vickers, Auston Trusty, Liam Scales and Dane Murray as our only viable options at the back.

Cameron Carter-Vickers and Liam Scales. St Mirren v Celtic, Scottish Premiership, Saturday 1st March 2025. Photo: Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

CCV is of course the main man in the centre of defence, and Brendan seems to prefer Liam Scales beside him judging by his selections towards the end of the season.

It’s quite clear though that despite his commitment and effort, Liam Scales is probably somewhere between being a first team regular and a squad player yes, but regular starter is questionable. Same goes for Auston Trusty who looks a decent player, but Brendan doesn’t seem to fancy him in the big games, whilst young Dane Murray is seen no more than emergency cover if he’s ever fit enough to play.  Out of all the central defenders mentioned he is clearly the most injury prone.

Auston Trusty. Aberdeen 1-5 Celtic. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

So it’s imperative that we recruit another quality centre back, one in the mould of CCV. That would set us back a big fee, but it’s an area in great need of improvement. Even a high profile loan signing would be satisfactory, as long as it’s a player of sufficient quality and experience.

We have two reliable and quality full backs in Alistair Johnston and Kieran Tierney, if we found a quality partner for CCV then our defence would look formidable in domestic football and competent enough in European football, hopefully in the Champions League.

And for that vital lay-off round we need to make sure that we have our best eleven on the pitch. There’s so much at stake in these two games that nothing but Celtic at our best and at our strongest in terms of the starting XI will do.

Just an Ordinary Bhoy

Alec McNair, Celtic’s Icicle by David Potter. Available at Celticstarbooks.com – currently £5 off in our summer sale!

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