Celtic’s reported interest in George Campbell continues to gather attention south of the border via Express and Star, with fresh discussion emerging over how much it could take to tempt West Bromwich Albion into a sale this summer.
Earlier this month, CeltsAreHere revealed that Celtic had registered an interest in the USA international as the club stepped up plans to strengthen its defensive options ahead of next season.
Since then, the link has gained wider attention, with reports in England now discussing Campbell’s future and what sort of transfer fee Albion could demand should interest develop further.
The 24-year-old enjoyed a strong first campaign at The Hawthorns after arriving from CF Montréal last summer. Although West Brom spent much of the season battling near the wrong end of the Championship table, Campbell emerged as one of the club’s more consistent performers.
After initially featuring at right-back, he eventually established himself in the centre of defence and became a regular starter. He also chipped in with four goals across the campaign.
Local reporting has now focused on Campbell’s value, with comparisons being made to former Albion defender Torbjørn Heggem, who was signed for around €1.2 million before earning a €7.5 million move to Bologna.
While nobody is suggesting Campbell would command that sort of fee immediately, it does offer an insight into how Albion may view one of their developing assets.
From a Celtic perspective, the attraction is easy to understand.
Campbell fits the age profile the club often targets, has experience in British football and can operate in more than one defensive position. With questions remaining over Celtic’s centre-back options heading into a season that includes a crucial Champions League play-off, defensive reinforcements are expected to be high on the agenda.
At this stage there is no indication that a deal is close, but the conversation around Campbell appears to be moving beyond simple transfer interest.
The focus is now shifting towards valuation, and that is often where transfer stories begin to take shape. Whether Celtic decide to test West Brom’s resolve remains to be seen, but Campbell’s name continues to feature prominently as the summer window approaches.
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