Celtic could be set to let Moritz Bauer return to Stoke City when his loan stint at Parkhead ends.
Football Insider has recently reported that Neil Lennon has been pondering over which of the club’s loanees should be sent back to their clubs at the end of the season. The same report goes on to state that Lennon is set to recommend to the club that their option to buy the defender should not be activated.
Is Bauer good enough for Celtic?
Yes, he's a good back-up
No, let him go
It is reported that the Hoops are now set to cut ties with Bauer and he won’t be at Parkhead next season.
Not playing enough
Since arriving on the loan deal this past summer, Bauer has not become Celtic’s first-choice at right-back. The former Rubin Kazan man has made only 13 appearances in all competitions, with nine of them being Premiership appearances.
He grabbed two assists for the club earlier in the league campaign. He also played 24 minutes of the Old Firm derby in his league debut.
However, he is far from a regular, having not played a single minute in the league since late January.
TIF Tactics
Hatem Abd Elhamed recently returned from a muscle injury and played nine minutes against St. Mirren earlier this month. Lennon also has Jeremie Frimpong at his disposal, with the Dutchman having made 22 appearances in all competitions so far.
If Elhamed stays fit, he and Frimpong can rotate in that position. Bauer may therefore not get regular football and keeping him at Parkhead will not make too much sense, on that basis.