Celtic’s second most expensive signing left in limbo

Despite advertising his availability by flying out for talks with Schalke there seems to be a lack of interest in Chris Jullien. 

The Frenchman has fallen to fifth choice central defender under Ange Postecoglou with just 20 minutes of competitive action to his name over the last 20 months. 

That will be one factor scaring clubs away, the other major issue is that his contract expires in May with Celtic likely to be expecting a transfer fee while Jullien is unlikely to be rushing into taking a pay cut. 

It has all created a reverse perfect storm as Football Scotland reports: 

Jullien is hopeful he’ll still be able to find a new club before the transfer window closes on September 1. As things stand though, Football Scotland understands that no club has registered any serious interest, which means he could find himself frozen out until January at the earliest. 

Since breaking the news of interest in Alexandro Bernabei, Mark Hendry appears to have discovered a source of very positive Celtic news. 

With Carl Starfelt still to play this season Stephen Welsh and Moritz Jenz have partnered Cameron Carter-Vickers in central defence with Jullien failing to be listed among the nine substitutes. 

It is an issue that Postecoglou could do without but the Australian won’t be side-tracked by speculation over a player that Peter Lawwell and Neil Lennon spent £7m on in the summer of 2019. 

After the £9m spent on Odsonne Edouard in 2018 Jullien is Celtic’s second most expensive signing.