Report: Celtic reject January offers for defender

By John McGinley

January 7, 2022

Celtic have turned away approaches from clubs to sign defender Osaze Urhoghide on a permanent basis this month, it has been reported by The Scotsman today.

Scottish Premiership and English Championship sides are keen on the full-back. However, Celtic are not willing to let him leave permanently.

Instead, Celtic are eager for the former Sheffield Wednesday man to leave on a loan basis, similar to the move of Liam Shaw to Motherwell.

Urhoghide still has a future at Celtic

Motherwell wasted little time in snapping up Shaw, so it seems likely that Urhoghide is similarly in demand and that a loan deal will be sorted soon.

Urhoghide has only had one opportunity to impress in a match at Celtic this season, but impress he did. He was one of the best performers in a Europa League fixture against Real Betis last month, helping the side to a 3-2 win.

However, he subsequently picked up a knock that meant he was unable to follow that up with a run at more appearances under Ange Postecoglou.

Urhoghide is blessed with strong athleticism and determination. That was immediately apparent against Betis. Like Shaw, he needs regular game time to polish his all-round ability up and return to Celtic ready for a serious push at making it in Postecoglou’s squad.

It would be fascinating to see how he would do at another Scottish top-flight side, which is where I hope he ends up.

A move down to England is all well and good, but I feel six months here would best prepare him for joining up with Celtic again this summer.

In other news, Celtic coach will stay at Lennoxtown despite link to Scottish management job