With just over a week to go in the transfer window it seems that bringing in a commanding central defender is Cetltic priority signing target.
Interest in Jeffrey Burma seems to have been discounted as a four days internet wonder with news breaking overnight of Aberdeen rejecting a £3.5m bid for Scott McKenna.
Historically Celtic have rarely had a strong defence or spent big in that area.
Martin O’Neill recognised that flaw, within a year of taking over as manager he had put together a fearsome trio in the shape of Johan Mjallby, Bobo Balde and Joos Valgaeren.
Strangely, a few years later the more homespun pairing of Stephen McManus and Gary Caldwell were playing in the last 16 of the Champions League.
Without question the best defender that Celtic have had in the last generation was Virgil van Dijk.
For £2.5m Neil Lennon was able to sign the Groningen centre-half, pretty quickly folk were commenting on how easy he made defending look, suggesting he could be playing in slippers with a cigar.
Soon Southampton supporters were saying the same, now all of a sudden Liverpool have cured their defensive problems for ‘just’ £70m.
Van Dijk won’t be back at Celtic any time soon but who is playing in his position at Groningen?
Samir Memisevic and Mike te Wierik were the regular central defenders last season, either of them could be bought for around £1m with a generous 20% sell on clause likely to keep Groningen happy.
At 25 years of age Memisevic has a year left to run on his Groningen contract and two solid seasons behind him in Dutch football. Moving to Celtic should boost his chances of adding to his two international caps for Bosnia.
Te Wierik joined Groningen a year ago for £800,000 from Heracles and has two years left to run on his contract.
It could be argued that Celtic don’t need an outstanding central defender. Someone competent, who knows the position and who can assist Kris Ajer or Jack Hendry ought to be good enough. Someone like Christophe Berra although the crocked Hearts man clearly isn’t an option.
Valgaeren and van Dijk came from Dutch football to be highly effective defenders for Celtic, could another visit to Groningen solve a problem?Â
CLICK HERE for Radio Scotland recruit another Ibrox cheerleader