Celtic have surprise bid for EPL defender rejected

Celtic are reported to have had a bid for Ben Arthur rejected by Brentford.

The defender arrived at Celtic on loan in January and returned to the Bees with his first taste of professional football added to his CV.

It was almost all condensed into the month of March but provided the defender with priceless experience at the coalface.

It could hardly have been tougher for Arthur.

An injury to Dane Murray in the warm up away to Aberdeen threw him into an unexpected debut.

Arthur barely put a foot wrong. Celtic won 2-1 to keep their SPFL title hopes alive.

Next up it was in at the deep end at Ibrox with a Celtic side decimated by injuries to Kieran Tierney and Callum McGregor.

That Scottish Cup tie has achieved legendary status. Arthur played for an hour, you don’t gain anything like that in EPL u-23 fixtures.

With Auston Trusty back from suspension Arthur dropped back to the sidelines.

In the title run in Murray became the third choice central defender behind Trusty and Scales.

Today, out of the blue the Richmond and Twickenham Times, covering Brentford announced:

Brentford rejected an approach from Celtic to sign defender Benjamin Arthur on a permanent deal.

The Richmond and Twickenham Times understands the Hoops made an approach for the defender, but it was immediately rejected by the Bees.

The 20-year-old joined Martin O’Neill’s side on loan in February, making six appearances in all competitions.

It is understood Brentford rate Arthur very highly and consider part of their future plans.

The 20-year-old signed a new deal until the summer of 2031 last summer, with the option of an additional year.

Arthur had been assumed to be in the £20m future superstar bracket.

A bid in excess of the £11m Kasper Hogh would be needed to get Brentford to the negotiating table.

CENTRAL DEFENSIVE OPTIONS AT CELTIC

With Scales, Trusty and Carter-Vickers it was assumed that central defence was an area of the team that was fairly settled. With Murray as fourth choice.

For a new record fee Arthur would have to be a first pick at Celtic.

Which would suggest that Celtic are expecting to lose at least one of their current central defenders.

A further loan deal on deadline day seems more likely but from the report above it seems that Arthur could be required by Brentford for the start of the season.

So far in the transfer window Celtic haven’t signed any defenders. Stephen Welsh and Maik Nawrocki, on loan last season have left on a permanent basis.