Celtic supervisor Martin O’Neill made a number of adjustments to his beginning line-up for the SFA Cup conflict with semi-professional outfit Auchinleck Talbot on Sunday night.
The likes of Paulo Bernardo, Stephen Welsh, Dane Murray, James Forrest, and Anthony Ralston had been introduced into the staff, because the Hoops secured a 2-0 win.
Celtic had been solely in a position to rating two objectives previous the West of Scotland League Premier Division outfit, with Johnny Kenny opening the scoring earlier than Sebastian Tounekti sealed the win with a surprising purpose late on.
Welsh’s look on the again now signifies that he both has to remain at Parkhead or return to Motherwell, as a consequence of enjoying for 2 groups this season after being recalled from his mortgage spell earlier this month.
The Scottish defender’s return to Glasgow might be short-lived, although, if the Hoops are ready to usher in one other centre-back earlier than the tip of the window.
Celtic be a part of the race to signal new defender
The truth is, the Scottish Premiership giants are reportedly a star whose arrival at Parkhead may spell the tip of Welsh’s time with the membership.
In line with Rudy Galetti’s Substack, Celtic are one of many groups all in favour of a deal to signal WSG Tirol central defender Jamie Lawrence, who has emerged as a brand-new goal for the membership.
The report claims that the Hoops have added the 23-year-old star to their record of switch targets for the January switch window, as they give the impression of being to bolster their choices on the again.
It provides, although, that groups in Spain, Turkey, Russia, and China have already made presents to signal the colossal 6 foot 7 centre-back, who has additionally been the topic of enquiries from groups within the English Championship.
Galetti’s report reveals that his contract is because of expire on the finish of the season, which is why Tirol are open to promoting him this month, and that signifies that he may very well be obtainable for a cut-price charge now, or on a free switch in the summertime.
Why Celtic ought to signal Jamie Lawrence
When Celtic determined to recall Welsh from his mortgage at Motherwell, O’Neill mentioned: “He is having a extremely nice time at Motherwell and I perceive, from a enjoying viewpoint, that having received himself up and working and doing nice, he in all probability did not need that disturbed.
“However there was a cut-off level the place we may take him again after which ship him again to Motherwell if that was the case. Which may occur.”
These feedback counsel that there’s nonetheless an opportunity that Welsh will return to Motherwell earlier than the tip of the window, which is what the membership needs to be aiming to do.
The 26-year-old defender misplaced 57% of his aerial duels within the Premiership for Celtic final season, albeit in a single look, and misplaced 62% of his floor duels in ten video games within the 2023/24 marketing campaign, per Sofascore, which led to the choice to ship him out on mortgage within the first place.
O’Neill ought to, due to this fact, push for the membership to get a deal over the road to signal Lawrence within the coming days, as a result of the German star’s arrival at Parkhead would permit the Hoops to ruthlessly half methods with Welsh already.
Celtic would then have Lawrence, Auston Trusty, Liam Scales, and Dane Murray to cowl the 2 centre-back positions, earlier than Cameron Carter-Vickers returns from harm subsequent season, which would go away no want for the previous Motherwell loanee to stay within the squad.
|
25/26 |
Welsh (Premiership) |
Lawrence (Bundesliga) |
|---|---|---|
|
Appearances |
15 |
17 |
|
Tackles per sport |
0.7 |
1.8 |
|
Interceptions per sport |
1.3 |
2.0 |
|
Clearances per sport |
6.4 |
8.7 |
|
Duels gained per sport |
4.6 |
6.4 |
|
Aerial duel success fee |
52% |
72% |
As you may see within the desk above, the Tirol centre-back’s performances within the Austrian Bundesliga thus far this season counsel that he would arrive as a a lot better possibility than Welsh, providing extra defensive high quality, notably aerially.
Lawrence, who additionally gained 65% of his duels throughout 33 video games within the Bundesliga within the 2024/25 marketing campaign, per Sofascore, is a dominant defender who can win duels at a powerful fee, while additionally making loads of defensive interventions to assist his staff out every sport.
He could be a a lot better possibility than Welsh, as a result of he’s higher at coping with opposition attackers aerially and on the whole play, and is three years youthful, which signifies that the German ace has extra potential and time forward of him to enhance and develop.
Due to this fact, signing Lawrence may spell the tip of Welsh’s profession at Parkhead as a result of it could put one other participant between him and being a first-team common for the Hoops, and he’s already on the backside of the pile, having initially been despatched out on mortgage.
Higher signing than Kovacevic: Celtic may land Kenny improve for £6.5m
Celtic may make a fair higher signing than Franko Kovacevic by swooping for this reported goal.
That’s the reason the Hoops should signal the Tirol star after which strategy Motherwell to see if they’d be all in favour of signing the Scottish dud on a everlasting deal, or on one other mortgage with a view to promoting him in the summertime.