Celtic have been linked with a defender who has already played for Ajax, Paris Saint-Germain, Bayer Leverkusen and Atalanta.
Mitchel Bakker is only 26, but he has spent his entire senior career in the Netherlands, France, Germany and Italy.
Atalanta are working to move the Dutchman on, with TuttoMercato naming Celtic among the clubs following him. Clubs in Italy and Turkey are also said to be watching him.
This is not the first time Bakker has appeared on Celtic’s radar. The club were linked with a loan move for him while he was at Paris Saint-Germain in 2020, before his career took him to Leverkusen and Atalanta.
It is easy to see why Celtic are looking at him again. But there is an obvious problem. He barely played last season.
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Who is Celtic target Mitchel Bakker?
Bakker is a left-footed wing-back who came through the Ajax academy before joining Paris Saint-Germain in 2019. He later spent two seasons with Bayer Leverkusen before Atalanta signed him in 2023.
He made 22 appearances as Atalanta won the Europa League, then joined Lille on loan for the 2024/25 campaign. Bakker played 35 times and scored four goals during his season back in France.
“Bakker is an attacking left-sided defender who likes to get beyond the midfield. He could give Celtic another option at left-back or wing-back.
The major Celtic concern over Mitchel Bakker
Bakker’s season was almost completely wiped out after he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during training last July. He underwent surgery and did not return to Serie A action until May.
His comeback lasted only eight minutes against Bologna. Bakker was once valued at €37.5m, but Celtic will care far more about his knee than an old valuation.
Ajax, PSG, Leverkusen and Atalanta explain why Celtic are looking at him. The concern is whether his knee will allow him to get back to the level he once was.
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