A lot has been made of the money spent on Christopher Jullien and the absolute mountain of a centre back could prove invaluable this season. However, there’s a player Celtic and Neil Lennon personally scouted last week that has all the makings of a top signing in disguise.
Neil Lennon’s visit to Wales last week was to check up on a young defender Strahinja Pavlovic.
Pavlovic, 18, made the breakthrough for Partizan last season and hasn’t lost his place since being included in the first team squad. The player exhibits signs of a top-class defender that needs to be developed and nurtured.
This is the sort of signing that Neil Lennon pulled out the bag for Celtic in his first run as manager.
Signing a Wanyama who would come in during his first season and have to wait for his time to shine while being moulded on the training field. It was not too long before the big man made a name for himself in the Hoops because of his obvious talent.
People may point to Virgil van Dijk and similarities but the Wanyama equivalence is more appropriate. For me, Virgil was already a Rolls Royce of a player when he pulled on a Celtic jersey. He was first choice from the off and for good reason.
Signing the young Serbian could prove a masterstroke if Celtic could fend off interest from some big European clubs for the player’s signature.
If Neil Lennon is travelling to see the player then there has to be some serious interest.
The Serbian spoke earlier this week about being flattered by Celtic’s interest and having his aspirations to play in some of the top European clubs. Celtic can be his passport to the big time much like it was for Wanyama and Virgil van Dijk.
It could be the signing of the summer in terms of the business Celtic do. Maybe not straight off the bat but, in time, could be a solid investment.
