Celtic have made an approach to sign Stoke City defender Moritz Bauer, according to the Scottish Daily Mail.
The newspaper claim the Hoops have set their sights on the Austria international as they look to recruit a right-back, centre-back, central midfielder and striker in the final 36 hours of the summer window.
The Mail report Celtic have lodged an enquiry for full-back Bauer, while Leicester City’s £13million defender Filip Benkovic and Manchester City midfielder Douglas Luiz are also loan targets.
It is said Brendan Rodgers is also in the market for a centre-forward to replace Moussa Dembele, who is closing in on a return to France.
Good move for Celtic?
Yes. The Hoops need defensive reinforcements if they are to maintain their domestic dominance that has yielded consecutive troubles. Mikael Lustig has provided sterling service at right-back, but he was pretty mediocre last season and the years look like they have caught up with him. Bauer is an established player who is approaching his peak and would slot in well on the right side of the Celtic defence. Capped six times by Austria, he made a sound impression for Stoke in the second half of last season after joining from Russian side Rubin Kazan in the January window. He could not prevent them being relegated from the Premier League, but looks a fine full-back.
This Is Futbol rating 7/10
Likely to happen?
Stoke have the financial firepower to fend off Celtic and secured Bauer to a new contract last month that runs until 2023. The Hoops would have to spend big to get the Austrian as well as convince him his prime years would be better spent at the Glasgow giants rather than at a Championship club with genuine promotion aspirations.
This Is Futbol rating 4/10