Why Omar Colley to Celtic would bolster their defence
As per Calciomercato (h/t Glasgow Times), Celtic are interested in signing Sampdoria star Omar Colley in a bid to bolster their defence this summer.
The report suggests that Hoops boss Neil Lennon is looking to improve the squad depth and could sign the €15m-rated Colley. It also states that The Gambian international is keen on a move away from Serie A and Celtic Park could be his destination.
Profile
Born in The Gambia, Colley started his journey with the youth ranks of Wallidan in his homeland before joining Real de Banjul on a free transfer. A year later, he was signed by Finnish outfit Kuopion Palloseura, where he made 74 appearances.
He then played for Swedish outfit Djurgarden before making the jump to Belgium with Genk and made 95 appearances for the club. After two years with the Belgian outfit, he was signed by Sampdoria in the summer of 2018. Since then, he has established himself as a key member of the squad and has attracted a lot of interest across Europe, as per the report.
Colley could provide Celtic with depth in their defence
Lennon’s men have been brilliant in the 2019/20 campaign as they went on to lift their 9th Premiership title in a row. Their defence was solid last season, conceding just 19 goals in the league.
Kristoff Ajer and Christopher Jullien have formed a strong partnership in the heart of Celtic’s defence and have been solid at the back. However, apart from them, no one has managed to do well in defence. Hatem Abd Elhamed managed just 5 games last season and spent the rest of time on the sidelines due to a muscle injury.
And Jozo Simunovic has been linked with a move away from the club. The Croatian’s departure could leave them with limited options at the back. Thus, they should bring in a centre-back this summer and improve the depth in their backline.
In that regard, Colley would be a viable option for the Hoops. The Gambian has been in sensational form for Sampdoria this season. He featured in 32 games across all competitions and has gone from strength to strength in the last few seasons.
His inclusion would definitely add depth to Lennon’s squad and bring healthy competition for Ajer and Jullien at the back. The former Genk man is just 27 and is currently in good form.
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Verdict
With Simunovic’s exit on the horizon and the lack of options at the back, it is clear that Celtic are in dire need of central defenders. And Colley could provide them with some much-needed depth and quality in their pursuit for 10th consecutive league title. Thus, signing the Gambian international would be a wise decision by the club.
