2020 Celtic target Mitchel Bakker is now interesting Juventus in a potential €10m (£8.6m) deal this summer, according to Italian newspaper La Stampa.
Nine months ago, Sky Sports reported that Celtic had tried to make a loan attempt to sign Bakker from PSG. However, the move was rejected, and the Dutchman would go on to have a productive season.
Bakker would end the campaign with a stunning 40 appearances [Transfermarkt]. However, this was mostly due to a knee injury to Juan Bernat. Former Celtic target Bakker still isn’t seen as the first-choice at left-back.
But not even a year after Neil Lennon reportedly looked to bring him to Parkhead, he’s now being linked with a move to the Old Lady.
La Stampa reports that Juve want him as a possible replacement for Alex Sandro. However, if he was to go immediately, his current role would again be as back-up. The report claims he remains valued at £8.6m.
From PSG to Juventus? Mitchel Bakker looks beyond Celtic these days
In the past, we’ve outlined our hopes that Celtic would make a returning offer for Bakker. That we would go back in and see if PSG would accept a loan offer this summer. This came after they were reportedly looking to offload the Dutchman [MaxiFoot].
However, given he’s being linked with deals like this, Celtic will be a tough sell. Not because we aren’t as big a club as the likes of PSG and Juventus. But because of the league and environment we play in.
Unfortunately, Bakker now has every reason to believe he’s beyond Scottish football. If he chose to leave PSG this summer, he would have a host of options at his disposal.
It would’ve been interesting to see how our campaign would’ve gone had we landed the full-back. Despite being an attack-minded left-back, he only managed two assists in his 40 outings last term. It doesn’t scream prolific.
For the fee he would be going for, that’s a drop in the ocean for clubs such as Juventus and PSG. It perhaps shows the Ligue 1 giants haven’t been impressed by what he’s brought to the table.
But given the profile of clubs interested in him, it looks like any hopes of a Celtic move can be put to bed.
In other news, there’s been a promising reported update on the Mat Ryan to Arsenal saga.
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