CELTIC will continue dialogue with Spurs in their efforts to land £6million-rated Cameron Carter-Vickers on a permanent contract.
The impressive 24-year-old central defender agreed a season-long loan from the London club just before the August deadline and scored on his debut in the 3-0 win over Ross County at Parkhead 11 days later.
It was the perfect introduction to the Hoops fans and the Southend-born US international has settled in well in his new surroundings in the east end of Glasgow. He has been a first pick for Ange Postecoglou since his arrival.
Remarkably, Celtic are Carter-Vickers’ SEVENTH temporary transfer in five years as the rugged back-four operator has searched for game time after failing to play a solitary league match for Spurs after joining them in 2016.
RISE AND SHINE…Cameron Carter-Vickers puts pressure on St Johnstone duo Jamie McCart and Murray Davidson during Celtic’s 1-0 Premier Sports League Cup semi-final win in November 2021.
A year later, he was on his way to newly-promoted Championship outfit Sheffield United in August on what was originally intended to be for an entire campaign. However, after one goal in 18 outings, he was recalled to his parent club on January 15 2018.
Four days later, though, he was back on his travels as he switched to Ipswich Town for the remainder of the term. He turned out 17 times for the Portman Road club as they finished in a mid-table position. It was back to London in the summer before packing his boots for a 33-game season-long stint in all competitions for Swansea City .
Carter-Vickers impressed at the Welsh team, but no business was done to keep him at the club and once again he returned to Spurs. On August 8 2019, the centre-back agreed a year’s switch to Stoke City, but, following 12 appearances, he was once again summoned by his parent side on January 2 2020. A month later, he moved to Luton Town where he played in 16 first-team games.
ON THE BALL…Cameron Carter-Vickers is in control.
The merry-go-round took another spin on October 16 2020 when the eight times-capped international switched to Championship outfit AFC Bournemouth for a season. He made 21 outings and scored his second career goal in a 2-1 win over Bristol City in March 2021.
New Spurs boss Nuno Espirito Santo, who was sacked in November, recalled him to the club and gave him a first-team place in the Europa Conference League match away to Portuguese outfit Pacos de Ferreira on August 19 last year. It was an uninspiring evening for the visitors who lost 1-0 and 12 days later Carter-Vickers was on his way to Parkhead.
Former England keeper Joe Hart, with 75 caps in an illustrious career, arrived 29 days earlier and, like Carter-Vickers, has become a mainstay in Postecoglou’s line-up.
The 34-year-old shotstopper agreed a three-year deal following his £1million switch and both teamed up in the side’s silverware success last month after the previous season’s wretched and barren campaign, the club’s first trophyless term in 11 years.
GREEN FOR GO…Celtic line up for the Premier Sports League Cup Final against Hibs on December 19 2021. Back row (left to right): Joe Hart, Carl Starfelt, Tom Rogic, Cameron Carter-Vickers and David Turnbull; Front row: Josip Juranovic, Liel Abada, Callum McGregor, Greg Taylor, Kyogo Furuhashi and Mikey Johnston.
CUP THAT CHEERS…Cameron Carter-Vickers joins in the celebrations as skipper Callum McGregor holds the newly-won silverware after the 2-1 triumph.
Hart and Carter-Vickers played their part in the 2-1 Premier Sports League Cup Final success over Hibs as Kyogo Furuhashi took centre stage with a double second-half salvo.
Celtic are now the only team who can land the domestic treble – which would be the eighth in the club’s history – and start out on their Scottish Cup quest tomorrow night at Alloa while they are four points adrift at the top of the Premiership pinnacle with a Glasgow derby looming at Parkhead on Wednesday February 2.
The possibility of a clean sweep for the Hoops was a stretch too far in the hopes of many back in the summer as a new manager sifted through the wreckage of the previous season in which the team had inexplicably folded when the challenges were there to be met and overcome.
HAMPDEN ROAR…Joe Hart holds aloft the silverware after the 2-1 Final victory over Hibs.
Postecoglou identified two problems areas – goalkeeper and central defence.
Vasilis Barkas, the unconvincing £4.5million arrival from AEK Athens the previous summer, Scott Bain and Conor Hazard had all been tried in the No.1 position, but failed to inspire confidence.
Hart has provided the answer to that particular question.
Kristoffer Ajer quit for Brentford shortly after Postecoglou’s June arrival as Neil Lennon’s long-term successor while Shane Duffy, who didn’t impress during his temporary stay, returned to Brighton.
Christopher Jullien was forced out for over a year after his knee surgery and Stephen Welsh was brought in from his right-back berth to attempt to plug the gaps while midfielder Nir Bitton was also utilised in the heart of the rearguard.
HAIL THE HERO…Cameron Carter-Vickers (extreme left) prepares to congratulate Kyogo Furuhashi after his quickfire equaliser against Hibs. Nir Bitton, Josip Juranovic and Callum McGregor join in.
Carter-Vickers has brought stability to the backline with only 12 goals conceded in 21 Premiership games. Carl Starfelt, a £4.2million recruit from Rubin Kazan in July, has also played his part.
It’s time for the Englishman to put down an anchor on his career and Postecoglou will work overtime to make sure that permanent home is in the east end of Glasgow.
Watch this space.
