Bevis Mugabe of Motherwell linked with ‘wildcard’ transfer to Celtic

The Scotsman has linked Celtic with a ‘wildcard’ swoop for Bevis Mugabi of Motherwell! 

In two matches against Celtic this season the 26-year-old has turned in two very industrial performances, at best he could be described as a bit of a unit- a throwback to the days of stoppers rather than ball playing centre-defenders. 

According to Andrew Smith, Carl Starfelt and Stephen Welsh lack a degree of physicality in their defending, beyond that ‘asset’ it is difficult to see what qualities Mugabe could bring to Celtic. 

Starfelt and Cameron Carter-Vickers appear to be Celtic’s first choice defensive option at the moment, Welsh is back-up with Chris Jullien returning from injury and other options in Liam Scales and Nir Bitton. 

In The Scotsman Smith explains the Mugabe logic: 

Celtic interest was reported in Motherwell’s centre-back Bevis Mugabi early this month and Postecoglou may consider it prudent to ramp up his options in the heart of the defence, even as Christopher Jullien is preparing to return from a full year on the sidelines.

The Frenchman will require to be eased back slowly and gently following the knee ligament damage that wrecked 2021 for him. Celtic, even with Cameron Carter-Vickers – who could agree a permanent £6m deal in January following a successful first half of the season on loan from Tottenham Hotspur – Carl Starfelt and Stephen Welsh lack a degree of physicality in their defending.

The aggressive Mugabi could certainly extend that dimension. The 28-year-old’s Fir Park contract is entering its final six months so a punt on him would not require a major outlay. If not Mugabi, Postecoglou could possibly have another Scottish-based wildcard in mind. 

That other wildcard isn’t named. 

Mugabe moved to Motherwell in September 2019 after being freed by Yeovil Town which is the area of the transfer market that the Lanarkshire side seem very effective in. 

Making the leap to even being on the bench at Celtic seems far fetched with six other central defensive options currently at Celtic.