Sky Sports News reporter Anthony Joseph has hinted that Celtic may need to offload Christopher Jullien before they can bring in another centre-back.
It seemed as if Hoops defender Jullien would be leaving Parkhead for Schalke before his transfer collapsed, and he has since reported for pre-season training at Lennoxtown as the club go back to the drawing board with his future still unclear.
Celtic have already reinforced their backline this summer with the permanent arrival of Cameron Carter-Vickers, but with Carl Starfelt dealing with an injury, Ange Postecoglou will need other options.
Jullien is among the highest earners on the team and his departure would certainly have made recruitment easier, with Joseph now wondering what is next for the Bhoys.
Speaking on Celtic Fans TV, he said: “It’s going to be interesting to see what the Jullien transfer collapse at Schalke is going to do for Celtic’s pursuit of a centre-back, because I was always told that they were looking at centre-backs even if they were bringing Carter-Vickers in.
“I think they do still want to strengthen that position, but I also think they were presuming that Jullien would be leaving this summer.”
TIF Thoughts on Jullien and Celtic…
Will Celtic have to sell Jullien before signing another CB?
Yes
No
Tifo Football writer Jon Mackenzie recently claimed that Stephen Welsh, Postecoglou’s current deputy for Starfelt, ‘is not yet at a level’ to push the Swede, which would reinforce Joseph’s intel that the club are looking for solutions in that area.
While Jullien could be an option for the Australian manager going forward, it would seem unlikely given how he played just 16 minutes last term after returning from his own injury.
Getting him off their books will surely be a priority for executives in Glasgow, but it remains to be seen whether the club are capable of adding to their defensive regiment without first selling the Frenchman.