An Italian newspaper has claimed that Stephen Welsh is valued by Celtic at 2m euros, it isn’t clear if that is a transfer fee or loan fee.
Udinese have taken a shine to the defender with approaches made to Celtic over the last week with a loan deal suggested.
Welsh has battled away against incredible odds to make 40 first team appearances in the last 15 months, back in the summer of 2020 he had Chris Jullien, Kris Ajer, Hatem Abd Elhamed, Nir Bitton and Shane Duffy blocking his path to first team football.
After a couple of emergency appearances he got his chance at the end of January 2021 when Bitton was injured in a home defeat from St Mirren. From that low point he has made his mark although Carl Starfelt and Cameron Carter-Vickers appear to be the first picks for Ange Postecoglou.
Welsh’s development hasn’t gone un-noticed, particularly in the Europa League with Udinese impressed enough to make enquires after selling Samir to Watford.
Italian newspaper Messagero Veneto reports.
The central defender Udinese is looking for could come from Scotland to replace the Brazilian Samir , who flew to London on the “Befana broom” on the day of the Epiphany, to reinforce the defense of Ranieri’s Watford. Also up there in London, but in Gino Pozzo’s office, some phone calls for Glasgow and more precisely in the Celtic headquarters.
It is the owner club of Stephen Welsh, a young shoot that will turn 22 on January 19th, and that the Bhoys have practically raised, except for a brief loan at Greenock Morton two years ago, and of which they are now beginning to reap the benefits. Because the blond central defender (used to playing with the four-man line), with a right foot and a height of almost 190 centimeters, entered the defensive rotations of the Celtic coached by Postecocglu.
In particular, of the 41 games already played in the first team, there have been three in the recent Europa League that have already given important answers, with a goal also scored in the 3-2 against Betis Sevilla, in the latest assault on qualification.
Important structure, good sprint and discreet foot, Welsh is the prototype of the British defender strong on high balls, tedious and clean in hard and loyal interventions. Udinese like it, but the Scottish Under 21 team is valued at two million euros by Celtic.
There has been no official reaction from Celtic to the interest from Udinese but with Liam Henderson and Aaron Hickey making their mark in Serie A the Italian clubs appear to be recognising young Scottish talent.
£2m? Aye right. Does the zero key not work on their computer?