Report: Celtic 'run checks' on £2m English defender Archie Brown

By John McGinley

May 26, 2023

Celtic are one of the clubs monitoring the situation of Lausanne defender Archie Brown ahead of the summer transfer window, a report has indicated.

The Scottish Daily Mail [26/05 print edition, back page] states that Celtic have ‘run checks’ on the English left-back recently after he enjoyed a breakthrough senior season in Switzerland with Lausanne.

Available for a fee in excess of £2m, FC Copenhagen and rivals Rangers are also said to be keen on the former Derby County prospect – who made his switch to Switzerland back in 2021.

Brown has had a good campaign in the Swiss second tier, helping his club in their push for promotion back to the top flight. They’re in a strong position to seal the deal on the final day of the season, currently three points ahead of the club in third position with a superior goal difference.

He’s made 33 league appearances, scoring five goals and assisting four more from the left flank – also showing versatility as a central defender from time to time.

It’s the 20-year-old’s first real taste of consistent senior football and he now looks poised to earn a bigger move elsewhere, whether Lausanne seal promotion or not.

It’s a club well within the purview of Celtic scouts on the continent. Prior to making a loan move for Moritz Jenz from Lorient, the Bhoys scouted the defender during his time in Switzerland with the same side.

It’s also realistic that the Bhoys are in the market for a left-back this summer. Greg Taylor is installed as a viable number-one choice but Alexandro Bernabei has failed to make the kind of impact many of us hoped and pursuing another option doesn’t sound like the worst idea.

Clearly, this reported interest in Brown is preliminary. But it’s a name worth looking out for over the coming weeks and months as the summer transfer window develops.

In other news, Vince Rugari’s reassuring take on Ange Postecoglou’s answer about Celtic to Spurs links.