Chris Sutton believes that a midfield enforcer- that can play a bit as well- has to be Ange Postecoglou’s transfer priority.
Callum McGregor was often the only midfielder with a defensive instinct in the Starting XI as Celtic overwhelmed their domestic opponents. Dundee, St Mirren and St Johnstone were all on the wrong end of six and seven goal beatings.
Europe was a different matter with 15 goals lost in six Europa Leage group matches, before the World Cup break Celtic will have to tackle six Champions League ties.
Cameron Carter-Vickers on a permanent deal is the only business so far completed by Celtic but with two weeks to go until the Austrian pre-season training camp activity is expected to be stepped up.
In his Daily Record column Sutton explains:
Given the way Postecoglou wants the game to be played, that’s a challenge for him and his recruitment staff.
The Aussie isn’t just going to want a bruiser in there who just kicks people, makes tackles, covers runners but can’t pass the ball.
He’ll want someone who can play as well as do the ugly side to a high level and, in the modern game, prices for these fellas can range up to around £50million.
Finding that diamond in the rough, as they did with Wanyama, is the task. I see Brazilian Vinicius Souza is one name mentioned for the role, so it seems they are looking.
There appears to be strong interest in Souza but with Ajax, PSV Eindhoven and Atalanta also in contention there are bound to be fall-back options in Postecoglou’s squad.
Ismaila Soro and Yosuke Ideguchi were mentioned by Sutton but James McCarthy was completely overlooked.
