Report: Surprising January bid at Celtic

By John McGinley

January 7, 2022

Celtic have knocked back an approach from Serie A club Udinese for homegrown defender Stephen Welsh, Sky Sports have reported tonight.

The broadcaster believes Udinese made an approach to sign the player on loan with an option to buy.

However, Celtic want to retain his services having signed him up to a four-year contract last April.

Vindication for Stephen Welsh progress at Celtic

Welsh has managed to establish himself as a first-team regular at Celtic over the last 18 months, making 41 appearances in total for the club, 38 of which have been starts.

This season he has become a better player under manager Ange Postecoglou. However, he is still a third-choice defender behind Carl Starfelt and Cameron Carter-Vickers.

With Christopher Jullien also coming back from injury, he has a difficult time ahead to become a trusted starting eleven pick.

From that point of view, you can see why Udinese would slip in a cheeky bid.

But Celtic are doing the right thing here by rejecting their advances. Welsh is a talent still improving and developing. He is also providing critical cover at this moment in time.

Unless the Bhoys are thinking of buying another star defender then we shouldn’t be entertaining letting any of our central options go this January.

Still, I would guess this is a confidence boost for Welsh. It’s not often a Serie A side comes calling for your services. It’s also vindication for his Celtic progress that the club have knocked it back.

With Aaron Hickey doing so well at Bologna, perhaps Italian clubs are beginning to see Scotland as a market that has value.

In other news, Ange delivers brilliant squad update as winter break pays off big for Celtic.