The Celtic Star
·27 agosto 2025
Report claims Celtic interested in Roma left-back Anass Salah-Eddine

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·27 agosto 2025
Roma v Cannes – Pre-Season Friendly Anass Salah-Eddine of AS Roma in action during the Pre-Season friendly match between AS Roma and Cannes at Stadio Tre Fontane on July 31, 2025 in Rome, Italy. Rome Stadio Tre Fontane Lazio Italy. Photo Giuseppe Maffia
A couple of reports including this one on Inside Futbol are suggesting Celtic are among a long list of clubs chasing the versatile defender, with Nottingham Forest, PSV Eindhoven, Lille, FC Porto, Torino, and Werder Bremen also showing interest.
This translates as follows: ‘Whether it will actually lead to a quick return of Salah-Eddine to the Eredivisie remains to be seen. There is formidable competition for PSV. FC Porto, Lille LOSC, Nottingham Forest, Celtic, Torino, and Werder Bremen are also interested in the left-back from AS Roma.’
Of course, this link comes against the backdrop of a low key, low-cost Celtic summer transfer window so far.
Kieran Tierney of Celtic Kairat Almaty v Celtic, UEFA Champions League, Play-Off Round, Second Leg, Football, Almaty Central Stadium, Almaty, Kazakhstan – 26 Aug 2025Almaty Almaty Central Stadium Kazakhstan Photo Nikita Bassov/Shutterstock
Marcelo Saracchi of Boca Juniors drives the ball during the Copa CONMEBOL Sudamericana 2024 round of 16 second leg match between Cruzeiro and Boca Juniors at Mineirao Stadium on August 22, 2024 in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. (Photo by Pedro Vilela/Getty Images)
Celtic it seems however may now be well stocked at left-back. Kieran Tierney arrived on a free transfer but is clearly struggling to get fully up to speed. As such, the fact Boca Juniors Uruguayan international Marcelo Saracchi is reportedly close to a loan deal is encouraging.
Shin Yamada & Hayato Inamura of Celtic step off the team bus at Celtic Park. Celtic v Livingston, Scottish Premiership, Celtic Park, 23 August 2025. Stuart Wallace IMAGO/Shutterstock
We also have promising Japanese full-back Hayato Inamura, who made his competitive debut on Saturday. But he may go out on loan to develop defensively before challenging Tierney for minutes, given the manager wants to see defensive improvements in Inamura before trusting him on the European stage in particular.
Salah-Eddine’s appearance in the rumour mill today, however, may tell fans more about Celtic’s communications than their transfer strategy.
With the Champions League play-off exit fresh in supporters’ minds, a sudden flurry of ‘linked’ names—especially players unlikely to sign—can act as a less than subtle signal that the club has been working behind the scenes and is actively exploring options to strengthen the squad.
Anass Salah-Eddine of AS Roma during the Pre Season Friendly match between AS Roma and AS Cannes at Stadio Tre Fontane on July 31, 2025 in Rome, Italy. Rome Italy – Photo ZUMA Matthieu Mirville
From a footballing perspective, Salah-Eddine could in theory bring a different dimension to Celtic’s left flank. He’s capable further up the pitch than a traditional left-back, offering the kind of versatility that Rodgers might value if he was to consider him as a wide attacking option. But with Tierney and Saracchi already in place in his natural position, it’s unlikely he would be more than an outside shot as a potential signing.
As the window edges closer to closing on Monday, Celtic supporters can probably expect more names to surface. Whether any of them materialise into actual signings remains to be seen. But today’s link to Salah-Eddine is a reminder that the club perhaps wants us to know they are, or were, working behind the scenes to ensure Rodgers has options—both to strengthen the squad and to reassure fans after a bitterly disappointing European setback.
Niall J
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