Why Celtic should prioritise a move for left-back Mitchel Bakker
According to Sky Sports, Celtic had a loan offer for Paris Saint-German left-back Mitchel Bakker turned down. However, it has been reported that the Ligue 1 giants haven’t completely shut the door on a potential deal with Celtic.
As per the report, the Hoops identified the left-back department as an area that needs some investment this summer. The Scottish champions are keen to bring in another central defender while also being on the lookout for a new winger.
Profile
Mitchel Bakker spent seven years in Ajax’s youth system between 2010 and 2017 before making his mark for the club’s reserve team, Jong Ajax, in the Dutch second-tier. The 20-year-old featured in a couple of domestic cup games for Ajax during the 2018-19 campaign before moving across the continent to join PSG on a free transfer last summer.
The former Netherlands U-19 left-back made 5 appearances for the French heavyweights in all competitions over the course of his debut season last term. Bakker still has three years remaining on his contract with PSG that runs until the summer of 2023.
Bakker could offer Celtic some valuable cover
Celtic aren’t really short of depth in the left-back department but things could change very soon before the summer deadline. Boli Bolingoli-Mbombo has suffered a drastic fall from grace after breaking Covid restrictions by spending time in Spain and not going into quarantine on his return.
The Belgian’s indiscipline left the authorities with little choice but to postpone Celtic’s league fixtures against St. Mirren and Aberdeen in August. The left-back has since joined Istanbul Basaksehir on loan.
Greg Taylor has established himself as Celtic’s first-choice left-back but with Bolingoli-Mbombo moving out on loan, bringing in a new player for that position would certainly make sense.
Mitchel Bakker doesn’t have a lot of top-flight professional experience under his belt but he remains an exciting prospect with loads of potential that can be unlocked by regular game time. The Dutchman’s chances of playing first-team football certainly look better at Parkhead than at PSG, so this is a move that should be ideal for all parties concerned.
Celtic need more cover and competition for Taylor at left-back and Bakker looks like a good addition replacement.
Read more
- Why Celtic should make a move for Rodrigo Riquelme
- Why Caleb Ekuban could be a smart signing for Celtic
Verdict
Celtic need to ensure that they fix their squad depth issues before the summer deadline, given the challenge of having to compete on multiple fronts in the coming months.
Mitchel Bakker still has plenty of room for improvement at 20 and a potential loan move to Parkhead would definitely put the Hoops in good stead for a 10th consecutive league title
