New Celtic defender Mortiz Jenz has revealed he was ‘very close’ to joining the club last summer before the move fell through and he eventually switched from Lausanne to Lorient in France.
Jenz has arrived at the Bhoys on a season-long loan, with the club holding the option to buy the defender outright.
And the German defender is already keen on turning that loan deal into a permanent stay, if things work out for him on and off the pitch over the coming season.
Speaking at a Celtic press conference 67 Hail Hail attended earlier, Jenz said: “It was very close, but at the end it just didn’t go over the line, unfortunately.
“It would be my dream to stay at Celtic definitely.”
In the separate media conference with the traditional press, Jenz also shared that he held discussions with Ange Postecoglou as long ago as last summer.
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He said [Celtic YouTube]: “We’ve had many conversations, since last year, but also before I came over the last few weeks. He’s a great manager, he has specific ideas about me as a player and his plans, so that was very striking for me.
“I hope it will be a long-term thing because for me, it’s a dream. I hope I can do my best for the club. Anywhere you go, you have to make a quick impact.”
Given how keen Jenz seems to be on the Celtic move, it seems unlikely he turned us down last summer.
Reading between the lines, it appears we chose Cameron Carter-Vickers over him, despite the deal getting to the stage he was chatting with Postecoglou.
He didn’t sign for Lorient until very late in the window, by which point it had become clear Carter-Vickers was on his way to Glasgow.
None of it matters now, of course. What’s important is that he contributes this season. If he does, there’s a good chance his loan does become permanent.
That’s clearly his intention, and good luck to him.
In other news, Photo: Anticipated Celtic Park makeover coming together nicely.