Celtic are very close to signing Wolves’ Dominic Iorfa, according to the Scotsman.
And if it happens, the right-back has to join the club as opposed to at the end of the campaign.
Iorfa hasn’t played any of Wolves’ matches this season. He has, however, featured on 93 occasions for the Premier League side overall. With his contract up at the end of the season, Celtic are reportedly keen to get him signed up on a pre-contract.
But it would also make more sense getting him in now.
Despite apparent interest in Porto’s Fernando Fonseca, Iorfa’s signing would make that right-back spot as his own. He would automatically become first-choice, and it’s pretty clear Celtic would only sign one of the two players.
There is the option to go for both and push Iorfa over to centre-back. This isn’t his natural position, however, and prefers playing down the right-side.
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But waiting until the end of the season just isn’t an option. Mikael Lustig is done now, and Brendan Rodgers has often been featuring Anthony Ralston in recent matches.
Ralston needs time and Lustig needs punted
But whilst Ralston has plenty of potential in him, he isn’t yet good enough to be Celtic’s number one. Continuing to get some games here and there will help him grow, but he’s not yet at that level to be playing every week.
Almost symbolically, Iorfa’s number is 67. But it’s also a symbol of how far down the pecking order the defender has fallen at Molineux.
If Brendan Rodgers believes he’s good enough, sitting about saving pennies is a poor move from the club. Iorfa needs to be brought in to help the club achieve their goals this season.
This Celtic team would be a lot more solid at the back with a powerful right-back. If Iorfa truly is that, why wait?
There’s also the matter of important Champions League qualifiers in the summer. Rodgers has, in the past, stated how beneficial it is to get players in and used to the club at least six months before then.
Iorfa is sitting waiting to be plucked if Celtic want him. Whether it turns out to be the Wolves man or Porto’s Fonseca, somebody needs to be brought in this month.