OPINION
Celtic would pull off the signing of the window – in Scotland, England or any other European country you care to mention – if they signed Alfie Mawson this month.
The competition for the Swansea City centre-back is intense following his impressive season, with Everton and West ham leading the chase for his signature.
Intriguingly, WalesOnline claims that the Scottish champions are targeting the 23-year-old as they look to strengthen a back line that has already been reinforced by one centre-back signing this month, Marius Compper from RB Leipzig.
Any Celtic observer who has watched the team struggle in Europe this season as well as fail to match their domestic excellence of 2016-17 will recognise that another A-list centre-back is needed, especially as Jozo Simunovic and Erik Sviatchenko appear headed for the exit door, either this month or in the summer.
Mawson would not come cheap.
Sky Sports reported in their live transfer blog last Friday [1.27pm] that Swansea value the former Barnsley player at £25million, while reports elsewhere have stated £40million will be needed to land him this month.
Those are the kind of numbers that would appear to rule Celtic out of the running, but record funds could soon be at Brendan Rodgers’ disposal if £8million-rated Simunovic leaves and the club cash in on prize asset Moussa Dembele, who could fetch £30million.
Suddenly, £25million for a centre-back who would transform the team and provide the kind of steel they have not had since Virgil van Dijk was commanding the backline.
The public stance of Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins is that they are not looking to sell their star man and talks are underway with his agents over a new deal for him.
“We have had no approach, no offers from West Ham on anything to do with Alfie,” Jenkins said, as quoted by WalesOnline. “The intentions are to keep every player and we are talking to Alfie and his agents (about a new contract).”
The market for capable centre-backs has shifted following Virgil van Dijk’s £75million transfer to Liverpool and any club are clearly going to have to spend seriously big to land Mawson this month.
Mawson was given a breather on Saturday as he was rested from the 0-0 FA Cup stalemate against Wolves, but he has proved this season to be tough and durable in an otherwise dispiriting Swansea campaign.
Comfortably the club’s outstanding player this season, he has been an ever-present in their league campaign, start and finishing all 22 of their top-flight fixtures.
Confident with the ball at his feet and commanding in the air, his positional play and awareness has improved since joining from Barnsley. He has the potential to be a major player for Rodgers or any other prospective manager.
Sure, the northern Irishman’s seduction skills would have to be at their best, but Celtic can offer Mawson Champions League football, a regular starting role in a young and vibrant team and the adoration of a huge fanbase.
West Ham and Swansea certainly can’t match that.