Celtic Opinion: Hoops should sign Milad Mohammadi as back up for Tierney
According to reports from Football Insider, Celtic are prepared to swoop for Iranian international left-back Milad Mohammadi in the summer, with English clubs Fulham and Bristol City also weighing up deals for the 25-year-old, who is out of contract at his current club Akhmat Grozny.
Mohammadi has made a total of 25 appearances for Grozny in the Russian Premier League this season, scoring once. The 25-year-old rose to prominence with Rah Anan Yazdan FC in his homeland before completing a move to the Russian club back in 2016. In all, he has made a total of 79 appearances for Akhmat Grozny, scoring 3 goals and assisting a further 6.
Mohammadi, who was a part of Iran’s squad for the 2018 World Cup in Russia, came to prominence for his unsuccessful somersaulting long throw-in against Spain in the group stages, leading to multiple viral videos and memes of the event all over the globe.
However, he has done his reputation no harm at the club level this term and has enjoyed another solid season in the Russian top-flight.
The Iranian is essentially a left-back by trade but he is more than capable of operating as an out-and-out winger further up the pitch. Known for his high levels of stamina and uncompromised work-rate, Mohammadi constantly patrols up and down the pitch to contribute equally to both defence and attack.
Strong on the tackle and quick across the ground, the Iranian has a good range of passing and often creates chances with his accurate deliveries into the box, while also possessing the awareness and the positional sense of an orthodox left-back.
He likes to drive at his opposite number with pace but, at the same time, he is a very reliable defender as well. To add to that, Mohammadi is also a good dribbler, who uses his trickery to outsmart the opposition and create space down the wide areas.
The 25-year-old boasts of a pass accuracy rate of 75.5, including 0.9 crosses, 2.5 long balls, 2.5 tackles, 1.4 interceptions, 1.3 shots and 1 key pass per game in the Russian Premier League this term, figures which speak volumes of his well-rounded attributes as a flying full-back.
To put things into perspective, Celtic need to invest heavily in their defensive options this summer in order to maintain the right kind of balance in their ranks.
While replacements for Dedryck Boyata and Filip Benkovic at the heart of the defence and Mikael Lustig at right-back remain high on manager Neil Lennon’s wishlist, the Hoops also need to bring in a reserve left-back to take the pressure off Kieran Tierney’s shoulders.
Tierney has been an undisputed starter for the Hoops this season, but given that Honduran veteran Emilio Izaguirre is out of contract at the end of the campaign, Celtic should prioritise the signing of a new left-back as well.
Mohammadi’s presence would not only reduce the pressure on Tierney but also add depth to the squad in a key area and increase competition for places.
Tierney has had his fair share of problems with injuries and the Iranian is reliable enough to fill in his boots whenever the need arises. Furthermore, Celtic could also make use of Mohammadi’s attacking prowess by deploying him as a winger further up the pitch to cover for an injury crisis.
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Celtic, though, should look at him more as a replacement for Izaguirre and a versatile squad player at depth. He will take some time to acclimatise to the style of play prevalent in the Scottish Premiership, but going by what he has shown in the Russian top flight so far, Celtic could have a gem in their hands if they manage to strike a deal for him in the summer.
