American Andrew Gutman is on the verge of snubbing Rangers to join Celtic instead after dropping a social media hint that he is headed to Parkhead, according to the Scottish Sun.
The newspaper report the defender, 22, has started following the Hoops on Twitter and “is set to complete a sensational U-turn as he nears a deal with Celtic”.
The Scottish Sun report that Brendan Rodgers has given the green light for Gutman to sign as he looks for cover for injured left-back Kieran Tierney.
Good move for Celtic?
The jury is out on this one. Certainly, Celtic need a defender. In fact, they need two or three of them, given the doubts over three-quarters of their first choice defence – Filip Benkovic, Dedryck Boyata and Mikael Lustig. But it is asking an awful lot for Gutman to make the leap from college-level football in the USA to the Scottish Premiership when he has yet to make a senior competitive appearance. Gutman is a left-back who is young – he is 22 – and is likely to be free. That is the sort of profile that will attract Celtic, whose model is all about buying young talent, improving them and selling them on. Surely, Gutman can’t be expected to challenge for a first-team slot straight away.
This is Futbol rating 5/10
Likely to happen?
The chances of Gutman joining Celtic have increased after his Twitter hint. He has already had a Rangers trial, so has spent time in Scotland of late, and appears keen to take the next step in his career by heading to Glasgow. The final destination now is set to be Paradise.
This is Futbol rating 8/10