Carl Starfelt could become the latest player for Celtic to turn a tidy profit on as a report claim there is "interest" in the Swede in the English Premier League and on the Continent.
Ange Postecoglou landed the centre-back as one of his first signings in the summer of 2021 and he has been one of the building-blocks of the side that now stand one game away from a Treble in just the Greek-Aussie’s second season in charge. Starfelt was named as one of seven Parkhead stars the PFA Scotland team of the season and has struck up a formidable partnership with Cameron Carter-Vickers, looking good value for the £4million Celtic paid to sign him from Rubin Kazan two years ago.
Signing players and selling for a profit has been one of the central tenets of Postecoglou's tenure though with Giorgos Giakoumakis and Josip Juranovic both shifted in January for steep inclines on the fees paid to sign him. Sky Sports indicate Starfelt could be the latest Postecoglou signing to be moved on, claiming various clubs down south and in mainland Europe are interested in the 27-year-old, though they fail to name any of them.
Starfelt has been impressive but doesn't hold the same untouchable status in the squad as his partner Carter-Vicker so the Hoops could be open to decent offers that would allow them to comfortably replace him. Alistair Johnston was signed in a deal worth up to £3m – a fraction of the fee Juranovic was sold to Union Berlin for – and many Celtic fans and observers already feel they have upgraded in the Canadian.
With Postecoglou determined to improve for a tilt at the Champions League, and knowing he will need to move players on if he is to add any new overseas signings to his European squad next season, it tracks that a similar model will be used if a substantial offer arrives for Starfelt.
It comes after Postecoglou reiterated his determination not to "stand still" with four trophies in the bag already and one more potentially to follow on June 3. He said: "You can always improve. That’s my role. A lot of these guys are still young in terms of their football careers. I think there is improvement in us as a group. The experiences we’ve had this year, whether that is in Europe or domestically, make us stronger. It will be our task to make sure.
"It’s what I said at the end of last year: if we stand still, if we come out next year as the same team we were this year there is always the chance that somebody can overtake you. We can’t let that happen.
“We have to push on and make sure we become a better team. Results-wise that will be awfully difficult because it has just been an incredible standard, but in terms of the football there is always room for improvement.”
READ NEXT
