Report: Scottish Premiership side fail in late loan bid for Celtic defender Stephen Welsh

By Lewis Laird

February 1, 2023

Scottish Premiership side Dundee United are believed to have made a late move in the January transfer window for Celtic defender Stephen Welsh.

However, it was already decided that the Scotland under-21 international would remain at Parkhead after a number of clubs expressed an interest in a temporary move.

The 23-year-old has established himself as a member of Ange Postecoglou’s first team squad since the Australian’s arrival in 2021.

Last season, Welsh was the backup defensive option to Cameron Carter-Vickers and Carl Starfelt, and he made 24 appearances for the Hoops.

Following the arrival of Moritz Jenz on loan and unfortunate injury issues, the academy graduate has found game time harder to come by in the 2022/23 campaign.

So far, Welsh has made just six appearances, with his last coming during a 2-1 away victory against St Johnstone in October.

Going into the January transfer window, there was some speculation regarding the defender’s future at Celtic Park, particularly after the arrival of Japanese centre-back Yuki Kobayashi.

Some reports had indicated that the Bhoys would allow Welsh to depart the club last month in order to earn regular first-team minutes.

Several unnamed clubs from the MLS were believed to be interested as teams monitored the youngster’s current situation at Parkhead.

As we headed into transfer deadline day on Tuesday, there was yet more exit speculation surrounding Stephen Welsh, with reports suggesting English League One side Sheffield Wednesday were ready to make a loan offer.

However, their pursuit didn’t last too long after Celtic decided that the defender wouldn’t be leaving the club on deadline day.

According to reports in Scotland, Sheffield Wednesday wasn’t the only club to make an ambitious loan move for the Celtic centre-back.

Fellow Scottish Premiership side Dundee United reportedly also made their move to try and bring in the Scottish defender. However, their approach was turned down by the Bhoys [The Courier].

Stephen Welsh staying put at Celtic makes sense after Moritz Jenz’s departure.

At one stage in the January transfer window, it looked like there might have been a good chance we saw Stephen Welsh depart.

However, after Moritz Jenz’s loan was brought to an early end, it makes sense why the club choose to see the academy graduate stick around.

Whilst we do have Cameron Carter-Vickers, Carl Starfelt and Yuki Kobayashi to choose from, most of our defenders have had their fair share of injury issues this season.

So Ange Postecoglou and his coaching staff may have wanted to verge on the side of caution by keeping four centre-back options at the club.

Welsh has proved that he is more than capable of playing under the 57-year-old too, and if he was asked to step in, he would do so comfortably.

A loan move to Tannadice might have been a good option for the Celtic man to get some regular first-team minutes in the second half of the season.

But ultimately, the Celtic manager didn’t want to take the risk of leaving himself short of options at the centre of defence.

In other news, The strongest Celtic XI after impressive January window and the future team Ange Postecoglou may have in mind.