Mechelen's Stephen Welsh pictured in action during a soccer match between RSC Anderlecht and KV Mechelen, Sunday 26 January 2025 in Brussels, on day 23 of the 2024-2025 season of the 'Jupiler Pro League' first division of the Belgian championship. BELGA PHOTO MAARTEN STRAETEMANS (Photo by MAARTEN STRAETEMANS / BELGA MAG / Belga via AFP) (Photo by MAARTEN STRAETEMANS/BELGA MAG/AFP via Getty Images)
Ferencvaros are reported to be ‘monitoring the situation’ with Stephen Welsh.
The defender has just ended a five month loan spell at Mechelen, after a mixed start due to joining in mid-season he finished the campaign with 21 matches under his belt after a few seasons largely on the sidelines at Celtic.
That run appears to have accelerated the development of the former Scotland u-21 captain who made his Celtic debut in February 2020 away to Hamilton Accies.
There has been regular interest in taking Welsh on loan over the last few seasons but in January a deal was agreed with Mechelen.
Late this afternoon the Celtic Way claimed:
The Celtic Way understands that the Hungarian champions, who are managed by former Celtic striker Robbie Keane, are monitoring the player’s situation.
Belgian side KV Mechelen are also keen to land Welsh on a permanent deal after a successful loan spell in the second half of last season.
Celtic will likely be looking for a permanent deal and transfer fee for Welsh in the summer.
Although central defence is an area in need of strengthening the club currently has Liam Scales, Auston Trusty, Maik Nawrocki, Gus Lagerbielke and Dane Murray on first team wages as well as first pick, Cameron Carter-Vickers.
As Hungarian champions Ferencvaros will enter the Champions League at the second qualifying round in late July which makes early recruitment important in the summer transfer window,
If they win through the second and third qualifying rounds they will join Celtic in the seeded section of the Play Off round which will produce five teams for the Champions League group stage.
I think he sees his future at Celtic, I don’t mind Welsh but I don’t see him being a first team regular, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him go and prove himself good enough to play at a club of a similar size.
So the big con went through today after all,going by figures being branded and about for what yhe klub changed hands for,it looks like an action reply from mintys deal with Whyte l,only this time it’s the CHISLER King in charge of it.
Think of those chancers that brokered that deal today and think of the Poundland version of the Glaziers at Man Utd.
They don’t even have their feet under the table yet and there’s another share issue right before their mince pies.
Some how come a £20 million share issue is equal to a £120 million transfer kitty the daily had been screaming about all week.
Ah think I can smell shite,yes I can definitely smell shite.
Editor: There is a strong whiff about it, I’m looking forward to the detail to be put to shareholders on June 23, not a peep yet on Companies House website but that won’t dampen the celebrations…
I really wanted to see Stephen Welsh make the grade and become a first team regular as he’s a good guy and one of our own but despite some early promise, I feel he won’t make it as a Celtic player. While he’s got plenty of heart and is decent in the air, he’s way too slow, indecisive and uncomfortable in possession and is full of defensive errors. He’s also injury prone. A parting of the ways would be the best thing for both club and player and, whatever happens, I wish Stephen all the best for the future.