Celtic transfer news bulletin as Welsh offer arrives, Bueno condition emerges and things get 'crazy' in USA
Welsh could be on the way out while a new left-back is high on the agenda
Celtic have reportedly fielded an 'offer' from Mechelen to take defender Stephen Welsh on loan.
The centre-back has largely been out-of-favour since Brendan Rodgers' return, though injury didn't help him last season. By the time he returned from an ankle problem in December, Cameron Carter-Vickers and Liam Scales had hit their stride and Welsh started just three league games from there.
The 24-year-old still has three years to run on his contract and is thought to be ahead of Maik Nawrocki and Gustaf Lagerbielke in the pecking order. But Rodgers could decide to move him on if it means he can play regularly and make room for another defensive addition. Sky Sports reported late on Friday night that Belgian side Mechelen, who helped relaunch Jack Hendry's career, have made an offer to take him on loan for the season. It's also claimed a number of English Championship clubs are keen.
Elsewhere, Wolves have reportedly told Celtic they only want to loan out Hugo Bueno if he will be playing regularly. With Alexandro Bernardo currently out on loan, Greg Taylor is the only senior natural left-back at Parkhead and that's something Rodgers is keen to rectify. It's emerged this week that Bueno, who played 25 times for Wolves last season, is a target to that end with talks underway over a loan. That's after a failed attempt to bring him in in January.
But it's claimed by Football Insider that Wolves have informed Celtic he would need to be a first-team regular for them to consider it with the 21-year-old's development key. Whether or not the Hoops can offer that with Taylor likely to be their first-choice to begin with remains to be seen, but they will have plenty of chances to rotate once the Champions League kicks off and the option to rest Taylor, who played 46 games last season, is one Rodgers may be likely to take.
Elsewhere Cameron Carter-Vickers admits he’s been blown away by Celtic’s support Stateside. And the Hoops defender is determined to sign off the club’s North America tour with a big show against Chelsea.
Carter-Vickers is preparing to make his first appearance of pre-season after catching up with the squad late following his involvement in the Copa America with USA. The centre-back is now up to speed and he admitted it’s been a thrill seeing the side’s backing over the Atlantic.
He said: “It’s crazy. Right from when we arrived in Washington there have been fans around wearing green and white shirts. It was the same in North Carolina and now here. We just want to go out and perform for those fans.
“It’s my first time at Notre Dame, and my first time in Indiana as well. The facilities are amazing. The boss told us before training about the reasons why the Notre Dame college football team was created and the similarities with Celtic.”
Carter-Vickers has been itching to get involved after watching the Hoops in devastating form against DC United in Washington and then thrilling in the win against Manchester City in North Carolina. The defender is rested up and fully fit and ready to get going against Enzo Maresca’s Premier League big guns. Carter-Vickers said: “It’s been great. I came in a little late and joined up with the team a couple of days before the game against DC. It’ll be my first minutes of pre-season and I’m looking forward to it.”