Brendan Rodgers faces a major dilemma as he contemplates the final week of the transfer market and Celtic’s Champions League draw.
The imminent signing of Rivaldo Coetzee demonstrates again that the Celtic boss prefers to bring in younger emerging talents than to go buying off the shelf tried and tested players.
Giving Kristoffer Ajer game time and letting Nir Bitton develop as a defender are worthwhile long term goals but at some point in September Celtic are going to come up against some of the best and most expensive strikers in the business.
It’s highly unlikely that Bitton and Ajer will be paired together in a Champions League tie but there is no certainty that Dedryck Boyata, Erik Sviatchenko or Coetzee will fare any better.
Steven Caulker is the first name that springs to mind but as he weighs things up over the next few days the case for bringing in an older more experienced defender is bound to interest Rodgers.
Finding that player and agreeing terms with his club won’t be straightforward especially since they know Celtic’s turnover for the year has just received a £30m boost.
The return of Patrick Roberts will be very welcome but it could be a new experienced defender will have a bigger impact on Celtic’s Champions League hopes.