Left-back is believed to be a position Celtic are keen to strengthen this window; however, Brendan Rodgers has now hinted he could have an internal solution to this issue.
Following the winter break, Celtic are now underway in the transfer window and have acted to bring in Nicolas Kuhn from Rapid Vienna so far, which is the only piece of business Rodgers has carried out in the month of January.
According to Football Scotland, the Irishman is now believed to be targeting a left-back and a striker before the market closes for business at the tail end of this month.
Links continue to persist mentioning Liverpool youngster Owen Beck in connection with the club while Estoril defender Tiago Araujo is a long-time candidate to provide competition for Greg Taylor, although the Hoops seem to have gone cold on the 24-year-old.
In a surprising quip, Rodgers has now indicated that he could have an internal means of dealing with this pressing issue with ten days left to go in the window.
Brendan Rodgers on Celtic’s left-back situation
In an interview cited via The Daily Record, Rodgers has suggested that Republic of Ireland international Liam Scales could provide cover on the left-hand side of defence in a “worst case scenario” at Parkhead.
“My job is to bring competition to the squad in a number of areas. I’ve got to say, Greg has been brilliant for me”, said Rodgers. “Clearly there is a loading issue there we need to be mindful of if we don’t bring in support there. I know I’ve got Liam Scales who can play there, in a worst case scenario.”
He then went on to speak about Taylor, stating: “But Greg has been great for me. Like some of the players, he probably took some time to adapt to what we’ve been asking them to do. But now with everyone in sync, you can see how much he’s improved from a defensive perspective and the football side of his game is very good.
“I really, really like him. You always need those personalities. Greg is a real voice on the pitch. He’s very respectful of everything and you need players with that spirit and mentality. Being at a big club is about competition and it’s my job to make the squad as good as it can be.”
Liam Scales should be kept in central defence
January is a difficult window we are so often told and looking for solutions from within isn’t always a bad thing.
However, Scales has become an integral part of Rodgers’ plans since claiming a first-team role in the aftermath of his unexpected rise to prominence.
In the Scottish Premiership, the 25-year-old has featured in 20 of 22 league matches for the Hoops, notching one goal and two assists in that timeframe, as per Transfermarkt.
Earning his crust in the Champions League, Scales was an imposing presence against a high quality of opposition. He earned an average Sofascore match rating of 7.1/10 in his side’s 2-2 draw against Atletico Madrid alongside an 8.1/10 score for his efforts in Celtic’s 2-1 victory over Feyenoord.
Despite having experience of operating as a left-back, moving Scales out of a central role could prove to be counterproductive and potentially unsettle a back line that hasn’t conceded from open play in their last four league matches.
Time is ticking in the transfer market and Celtic should continue to carry out their due diligence on left-back targets between now and the end of the month to avoid putting square pegs in round holes.
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