Celtic have been linked with a move for Köln midfielder Eric Martel as attention turns to how the squad could be shaped going into next season.
Fotomac have placed the Hoops among a group of clubs tracking the 23-year-old, with Beşiktaş, Stuttgart and Fiorentina also named. The interest comes as Martel is in the final year of his contract, which makes him a realistic option in the summer window.
Martel has been a regular in the Bundesliga this season, playing mainly as a holding midfielder but also dropping into defence when needed. That flexibility is part of what makes him an attractive option for clubs looking to strengthen the spine of their team.
For Celtic, the link points to a clear area of the pitch. Callum McGregor continues to play a huge number of minutes, and there is no natural like-for-like cover when he is not available.
Martel’s profile fits that role more than most. He sits in front of the defence, breaks up play and keeps possession moving without overcomplicating things. It is a different type of midfielder to what Celtic currently have around McGregor.
The comparison with Arne Engels is an obvious one. Engels is more comfortable stepping forward and getting involved higher up the pitch, while Martel is more focused on positioning and defensive work. That balance has not always been there when Celtic have tried to reshuffle the midfield.
The timing of the link also matters. With McGregor being managed through recent games and the team losing control at times, the need for another option in that position has been clear.
At the same time, this is not a straightforward deal. A number of clubs are involved, and staying at a high level will be a factor in the player’s decision.
For Celtic, it looks like early interest rather than anything advanced. But the type of player being linked gives a clear indication of what the club may be looking to address in the next window.
Why are we continuing to read this,linked with this one,linked with that one when we don’t even have a permanent manager or chairman?.If it’s going to be MON and Maloney for another season,could they at least do us the courtesy of telling us so.Given that SB renewals are now on us.
How many decent players have we been linked with in the last three transfer windows and it all amounted to nothing.
With the anonymous and useless Nicholson as CEO, who can have any faith in any money being spent or the choices made given some of the dross, including loan players, he’s brought in so far.