da supremo： The last day of the summer transfer window can be an exciting or frustrating day for football fans, often it’s both. With most clubs finding themselves chasing deals as the transfer merry-go-round does its dance, potential transfers can go down to the wire.
da dobrowin： In Scotland the transfer deadline is at midnight and given the way their summer has panned out, Celtic could be one of those clubs getting their business done at a late hour.
The Hoops haven’t brought a raft of players to the club this summer. Brendan Rodgers has signed four players; Jonny Hayes, Kundai Benyu, Olivier Ntcham and Patrick Roberts.
With plenty leaving the club in the opposite direction, all players who were surplus to requirements, the Celtic squad has never been so streamlined.
However, some fans reckon it’s looking a little bare in some areas and would like to see a signing or two on deadline day to set their mind at ease and see the side reach its full potential.
These are the THREE signings the Hoops can still make today…
Odsonne Edouard
Odsonne Edouard is a name that will appear heavily on transfer deadline day. Multiple outlets, like STV, report that the Hoops will add him to the squad on a season-long loan deal from UEFA Champions League opponents Paris Saint-Germain.
The 19-year-old striker would offer depth to the attacking areas with the Hoops often finding themselves caught short due to injuries to Leigh Griffiths and Moussa Dembele.
Bringing in a young, hungry player looking to prove himself means he will likely be grateful of a handful of first team appearances rather than resent being third choice. He can also be an effective presence off the bench to change things up should Griffiths or Dembele not be getting the job done.
Edouard has come through the PSG youth system but has failed to break into their cash rich first team and spent last season on loan at fellow Ligue 1 side Toulouse, where he made 16 appearances.
He’s well regarded in the French youth international set-up, the inspiration for their 2015 U17 European Championship win, receiving the Golden Player award and scoring a hat-trick in the final against Germany.
With 5 goals in 13 games for their U19 side too, it’s clear his future his bright.
Steven Caulker
Steven Caulker is a name that was linked heavily with the Hoops earlier in the summer, with outlets like The Sun reporting in July that the Hoops had opened formal talks with QPR about a potential transfer North of the border.
While those reports have dried up in recent weeks, Celtic have failed to bring in another central defender, even seeing one of their targets Rivaldo Coetzee fail a medical last week in unfortunate circumstances.
It’s clear that Brendan Rodgers wants a defender, or the club would not be chasing Coetzee and that opens up the prospect of the club perhaps returning to one of their former reported targets.
Caulker would certainly appear to tick many of the boxes Celtic fans would be looking for. He’s an experienced defender who has played at the top level and has worked with Rodgers previously. He could be just what they are looking for, another first-team defender to compete with Jozo Simunovic, Erik Sviatchenko and Dedryck Boyata for places.
Miquel Nelom
If Celtic can’t sign an out and out central defender then perhaps bringing in a defender who can play multiple positions is the way forward, similar to the role Mikael Lustig plays in the side.
Step forward Miquel Nelom, a Dutch international left-back who plays for Feyenoord and who was linked with a move to Celtic by The Herald earlier this month. They reported that he was under consideration to be a replacement to Emilio Izaguirre, the Bhoys’ long serving full-back who left the club earlier this summer.
With just the inexperience Calvin Miller available as cover for Kieran Tierney, the club arguably need a bit more quality there to provide depth to their UEFA Champions League squad and Nelom fits the bill.
With over 150 appearances in Eredivisie and two caps for the Netherlands, Nelom could provide that quality and crucially he can also play in the middle, providing more cover for that central defensive area should the Hoops miss out on that kind of player on deadline day.