McGowan reveals European interest in Celtic defender

Stephen Welsh is reported to be a transfer target for Hellas Verona.

The defender slipped badly out of favour under Ange Postecoglou last season, at the age of 23 he can’t afford any more time as fourth choice central defender at Celtic.

Welsh was one of the few successes in the side that lost 3-1 away to RB Leipzig last October, he the following weekend away to St Johnstone then never got another minute of competitive action over the remainder of the season.

Stephen McGowan of the Daily Mail reports:

Celtic defender Stephen Welsh could be one of the first players to leave the club this summer after emerging as a target for Serie A side Hellas Verona.

His Scotland Under-21s teammate Josh Doig has impressed since leaving Hibs for Verona in a £3million deal last summer — and is now the target of a player plus-cash proposal from Lewis Ferguson’s Bologna.

Bologna are also keeping an eye on Welsh’s situation, with the 23-year- old keen to secure first-team football.

Welsh actually scored the opening goal of Celtic’s SPFL campaign, an early header against Aberdeen but an illness soon afterwards opened the door to Moritz Jenz with Carl Starfelt soon back in contention.

With Yuki Kobayashi signed in January the former Scotland u-21 skipper remained fourth choice after Jenz’s loan deal was cut short.

The injury to Cameron Carter-Vickers could be an issue going into the start of the new season but unless Brendan Rodgers has a dramatic plan to involve Welsh a transfer would appear to be good news for all parties.