Celtic urged to move for £5m-rated U21 international "in the Kieran Tierney mould"

By David Walton

November 30, 2021

Charlie Nicholas has encouraged Celtic to make their move for Hibernian left-back Josh Doig, who he claims is in the “Kieran Tierney mould”.

Celtic were heavily linked with a move for Doig earlier this year. However, nothing came of it and the player remained with Hibernian. That was despite also being linked with the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea respectively [Sky Sports].

Since then, he’s gone on to earn more first-team minutes under Jack Ross at Easter Road. Doig has managed 15 games this term, and is due to face Celtic in the Premier Sports Cup final at Hampden on December 19th [Transfermarkt].

And despite the fact he signed a new contract in recent weeks, Nicholas believes Celtic should go all out to bag him in the new year. Speaking in his Scottish Daily Express column [30/11, page 56], the former Hoops striker said: “Celtic need three signings in the January transfer window and my top target would be Josh Doig. There is no doubt Ange Postecoglou is making good progress but they still need a bit more, especially defensively.

“They need a left-back and I would go for Doig at Hibs. He has just signed a new contract so they would need to cough up a decent transfer fee but he is one for the future. I see him in the Kieran Tierney mould and if he keeps developing he will get better and better.

“Celtic can’t go out and buy the finished article. They need to develop players and sell them on. That is the club’s model. If Celtic signed both Doig and Hatate that would be the left-back spot covered and you could push Josip Juranovic across to the other flank to fight it out with Anthony Ralston for a start.”

Celtic unlikely to make move for Josh Doig as Reo Hatate reportedly closes in

Celtic are reportedly set to scoop Kawasaki Frontale defender Reo Hatate [Daily Record]. That’s clearly seen as a goer. And as a left-back, that will solve Ange Postecoglou’s problems in the position alone. As good a talent as Doig is, Celtic won’t necessarily need him.

After all, the Scotland U21 international is likely to cost as much as £5m in January. That is, after all, what Hibernian reportedly wanted for the player back in the summer [Evening Standard].

Can we honestly justify that? If we’re closing in on Hatate, why would we spend anywhere near that for a player who still needs plenty of development before he’s at Celtic’s level. Doig, for all of his potential, is still a bit off being a Parkhead regular.

Sure you could argue Hibs would be open to negotiation when it comes to that valuation. But let’s not kid ourselves, he’s still going to cost a few bob and so he should. Celtic, however, can turn around and point to the likes of Greg Taylor, Liam Scales, and Hatate as their left-back options. Would we need another?

It would very much feel as if there are other, more important deals to get done this January.

In the meantime, Doig will likely remain on Celtic’s radar. Don’t expect a January offer to be sent Edinburgh way, however.

In other news, Real Betis could potentially bring hugely reduced support to Celtic Park