Reports from Daily Mail have claimed that Scottish champions Celtic were keen on signing Stoke City full-back Moritz Bauer and had enquired the possibility of a transfer.
No move materialized in the summer transfer window, with Bauer signing a five-year extension with the club in July. However, the new season hasn’t started well for the Austrian international. The 26-year-old right-back has found himself on the fringes of the first-team under new manager Gary Rowett and has made just two starts in the Championship.
There have been reports of a rift between the player and the manager, which have been downplayed by Rowett. However, the full-back has found himself playing for the U23s in recent weeks (h/t Stoke Sentinel).
And Celtic must look to capitalize on the situation and make a move for the 26-year-old once the transfer window is open for business in January.
The Hoops have decent options at right-back in the form of Swedish international Mikael Lustig and Costa Rican international Cristian Gamboa. However, both players are in the final twelve months of their deals and haven’t impressed in the ongoing campaign. Academy graduate Anthony Ralston also seems to have fallen off the first-team radar despite enjoying a breakout campaign last time out.
So, reinforcing the right-back slot in the upcoming transfer window wouldn’t be the worst idea for Brendan Rodgers’ team. And Bauer has the abilities to be a great addition to the ranks.
The 26-year-old came through the youth ranks at FC Winterthur in Switzerland, before enjoying spells at GC Zurich and Grasshoppers. Subsequently, he joined Russian outfit Rubin Kazan in 2016. After spending nearly 18 months with the club, the full-back joined Stoke City in January earlier this year. He made 15 appearances in the Premier League last season and managed to make a solid impression even as the club ended up getting relegated.
A modern-day full-back with natural attacking instincts, the six-time capped Austrian international has the pace and the stamina to run up and down the flank.
The 26-year old’s abilities make him a perfect fit for the wing-back role in the three-man defence Rodgers has been using at the club. His presence could enable the manager to use James Forrest higher up the field, thus adding more potency to the team’s attack.
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Bauer has played in Europe and made a good impression during his brief spell in the Premier League as well. At 26 years of age, he still has his best years ahead of him, making him an enticing prospect for the Hoops. Should an opportunity present itself for the Scottish champions to sign him January, they must pounce on the chance.
