Why Celtic and Sheffield United could conduct mutually beneficial transfer business

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Celtic were at the centre of two intriguing developments yesterday after their interest in Sheffield United defender Auston Trusty came to light.

The Bhoys are keen on bringing the United States international north of the border just a year after he joined the Blades from Arsenal in a deal worth £5 million.

In addition, Sheffield United are in talks with Mikey Johnston and the Republic of Ireland international could have a chance to return to the scene of his excellent performances last term should he opt to move to the Sky Bet Championship.

With just a week of the window remaining, it will be intriguing to see if negotiations develop on both sides and whether either deal can be done. There have been murmurs of Johnston being used as a makeweight, but it is more likely the transactions would be put through separately.

Either way, Celtic and Sheffield United could be about to conduct some mutually beneficial business to bolster their respective squads for the season.

Celtic and the potential for smart business

It is unclear whether Trusty has been a long-term target for Celtic or whether he has fallen into their lap in the latter stages of the window.

To put it bluntly, it doesn’t really matter. The Bhoys have long prioritised finalising the arrival of a central defender to push for a starting slot alongside Cameron Carter-Vickers.

There is a wider recognition that their backline needs to be strengthened. With Gustaf Lagerbielke closing in on a loan exit and Yuki Kobayashi’s departure to Portimonense, space has been cleared for a new arrival.

Trusty appears to fit the bill, having made 32 Premier League appearances last term and being left-sided, which is a notoriously difficult position due to a sparsity of left-footed central defenders with pedigree on the market.

Now, Johnston’s inclusion also makes business sense. Despite making nearly 100 appearances for the club, he is down the pecking order on either flank and is unlikely ever to cement a position in the side.

Putting his prospective exit through as a separate sale allows Celtic to do two things. Firstly, as an academy product, anything earned for him essentially counts as pure profit.

The Bhoys aren’t bound to the stringency of Financial Fair Play regulations in England, but taking in a healthy fee for someone who won’t play regularly makes logical sense. Furthermore, his departure would free up a wide slot before the transfer deadline, making it easier to add personnel if needed.

Celtic and Sheffield United have the opportunity to conduct two operations that benefit them financially and also get to bolster key positions across their squad into the bargain, there isn’t a lot not to like.