Transfers

Celtic transfer business could lead to departure of Anthony Ralston

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Celtic’s recent loan signing of Moritz Bauer could have an impact on certain members of the Celtic squad. For a start, the Hoops now have four players who can play right-back.

That is too may for a squad to have. There is no chance of Hatem Abd Elhamed leaving the Hoops, as he only joined a short time ago.

Kristoffer Ajer will presumably return to centre-back, but could play at right-back in an emergency. That leaves Anthony Ralston.

Possibly fourth choice right-back at the moment

(Photo by Vagelis Georgariou/Action Plus via Getty Images)

The home-grown right-back is now arguably the fourth choice right-back at the club. That is not good for the player. Therefore, it would probably be best for Ralston if he moved on from Celtic.

A loan move could suit the player. There is still time for him to move to a club in Scotland, as the transfer window does not close until midnight on Monday.

A loan move could also makes sense for Celtic. The player is just 20, and has a long career ahead of him. If Ralston goes on loan for the rest of the season, he could return to Celtic in the summer and perhaps the right-back situation will have changed.

There is no guarantee that Bauer will be a success for the Hoops. Perhaps he won’t agree to sign for the club when the loan deal expires at the end of the season.

Has a chance to salvage Hoops career

(Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)

Therefore, Ralston has to look ahead to the future than the present, when it comes to his Celtic career. He has rarely featured for the Hoops this season, so a loan move would be the best short-term move for the player.

At the moment Celtic have a squad which is too big. It is time for the Hoops to move on some players who won’t be getting first-team football.

One of those players is Ralston. However, that does mean that his Celtic career is over. That will depend on how he fares if he goes out on loan.