The ‘agent-driven’ move from Fiorentina for Celtic defender Auston Trusty

Add as preferred source on Google

As well as looking to strengthen the team, Celtic had to field enquiries about some of their top talents in the January transfer window.

Celtic rejected bids for Arne Engels as Nottingham Forest tried to tempt the Parkhead club to part with their young Belgian star.

The Parkhead club also rebuffed advances from the Serie A for defender Auston Trusty as clubs like Fiorentina and Lazio looked at the Celtic stopper.

And it was the move for Trusty that appears to have been ‘agent-driven’ as journalist Scott Burns shares what he knows about the ‘definite interest’ from Fiorentina.

• READ MORE: Michael Gannon provides more insight into Celtic’s Fares Ghedjemis transfer deal collapsing

Celtic’s strong message to Fiorentina about Auston Trusty

Trusty has impressed in Italy whenever he has represented Celtic with excellent performances in the Champions League and the Europa League.

And it seems that an agent from Fiorentina tried to court the US defender with Celtic giving the advances a sharp rebuff.

Burns told Hotline Live, “There was an approach to Celtic via an agent from Fiorentina for Auston Trusty which was batted straight out saying no he’s not for sale, we can’t sell him.

“It was agent-driven, the Serie A side were keen to get him. Obviously, with Celtic struggling with centre halves as we know, they’ve brought in the young boy from Brentford and they let Stephen Welsh go, but with Cameron Carter-Vickers injured, it was just knocked on the head.

“Celtic saying they can’t let him go at this stage. Obviously, when they’re in a three-way fight for the title, the title, they weren’t even willing to listen to offers.

“They said not for sale, but there was a definite interest from Fiorentina.”

Auston Trusty’s impressive Celtic form

Trusty is a player who can be, at times, inconsistent but also brilliant as Celtic fans have seen over his time at the club.

But this season, Trusty has been excellent as his average rating over Fotmob shows.

• Scottish Premiership: 7.16
• Europa League: 7.06
• Best SPFL performance: 8.3 Celtic 4 v 0 Kilmarnock
• Best Europa League performance: 8.5 Bologna 2 v 2 Celtic

Celtic did the right thing keeping the big US defender as the title run-in with Hearts and Rangers needs experience and defenders who can produce big performances in big games.

Trusty has all that.