SHEFFIELD UNITED right-back George Baldock remains on Ange Postecoglou’s wanted list as the new Celtic boss continues his multi-million pound Hoops revamp.
The former Australia international manager has spent £12.2million in bringing in £3.5million Israeli winger Liel Abada, £4.5million Japanese striker Kyogo Furuhashi and £4.2milion Swedish centre-back Carl Starfelt.
However, Postecoglou, who saw Kristoffer Ajer seal his £13.5million move to Brentford yesterday, is still in the hunt for players to further strengthen his squad.
Baldock, 28, remains a priority with the Hoops light in the No.2 position after selling Jeremie Frimpong to Bayer Leverkusen and Hatem Abd Elhamed to Hapoel Be’er Sheva in the January transfer window. Everton’s Jonjoe Kenny was brought in on a short-term loan, but failed to impress and was returned to his parent club at the end of the campaign.
INSTANT HERO…Liel Abada celebrates his debut goal against FC Midtjylland.
Anthony Ralston, who played in the 1-1 draw with FC Midtjylland on Tuesday night, had the remaining year on his contract activated last month, but needs competition for the first-team spot.
Postecoglou has already acknowledged the team need more bodies in and admitted he had hoped to get deals done a lot quicker than the club have achieved so far.
Liam Shaw and Osaze Urhoghide have arrived from Sheffield Wednesday and Republic of Ireland youth winger Bosun Lawal has also signed from Watford, but the talented trio are seen as the club’s future and the new gaffer is eager to get players in who can go straight into the first team.
Baldock has been highly recommended and was linked with a switch to Parkhead, as CQN reported last month.
WANTED MAN…Aussie midfielder Aaron Mooy.
However, the Yorkshire club, who dropped into the second tier after last term’s relegation from the English top flight, are not keen to part with their reliable £4million-rated defender who is entering the final year of his contract.
While United remain stubborn, Postecoglou has also looked at Rennes full-back pair Brandon Soppy and Sacha Boey while Derby County’s Nathan Byrne has come on the radar, according to a report in the Daily Record.
Manchester City’s Japanese international defender Ko Itakura is another who has interested Postecoglou while he has continued to monitor his former Australian international midfielder Aaron Mooy.
Wages could be a snag with 30-year-old Mooy, who spent two years at St Mirren earlier in his career, who joined Chinese Super League team Shanghai SIPG from Brighton in August last year and is earning sky-high money.
