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Ben Banks

Celtic could follow Rangers transfer example as pundit urges Hoops to find John Lundstram alternative

Celtic hero Mark Wilson says the Hoops could take a leaf out of rivals Rangers' book by signing a player similar to Ibrox midfield battler John Lundstram.

The former defender reckons club captain Callum McGregor needs help and that could come in the shape of a central defensive midfielder. There are plenty of options for boss Ange Postecoglou in the middle of the park, including Reo Hatate, Matt O'Riley, David Turnbull, Yosuke Ideguchi, James McCarthy and Ismaila Soro, with youngsters like Liam Shaw also in the background.

They are lighter in that area now though and have been linked with signing Vinicius Souza from Lommel after losing Nir Bitton and Tom Rogic. Rangers found success in the midfield market last summer with Lundstram, who after an initial slow start to life in Scotland, turned out to be a star recruit from Sheffield United and shone brightly in their run to May's Europa League final.

Such a player could benefit someone like McGregor according to Superscoreboard pundit Wilson, who is already having to fill several different roles in the Celtic engine room.

A player like the Light Blues' battling star or legendary Hoops skipper Scott Brown may be beneficial as Postecoglou gears his squad up for a Premiership title defence and Champions League group stage football.

Wilson told the Scottish Sun : “I think they could do with an enforcer type. They made signings in January but the way the team has been shaped up, I think they could do with someone to fill that role.

READ MORE: Ange Postecoglou Celtic tenure could kickstart manager revolution as Hoops boss hailed Australian coaching trailblazer

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“A bit of aggression and a bit of physicality. That’s taking nothing away from Callum McGregor, who is a totally different type of player. He can break play up and he can start it. But it’s that real aggression.

“In those games where John Lundstram was particularly strong against Celtic I looked at it and wondered if there was anybody to match up to that.

“Reo Hatate is a big boy but he doesn’t look like a Lundstram or a Scott Brown, who will mix it. James McCarthy is a beautiful footballer when he is fit and on his game but, again, different.

"So I just wonder if AP would look for someone of that stature. I remember Victor Wanyama. He wasn’t Scott Brown, shouting and riling people. But if it kicked off you wanted Victor behind you!

“Again, on his first day I remember thinking, ‘Who is this guy?’ for working reasons, because he couldn’t control the ball.

“But it was obviously just nerves because we saw him thrust into those environments and he controlled things. I really do think Celtic could do with someone like that because it would release McGregor further up the park.

"A lot is asked of him in there in terms of dictating play, leading the team and scoring goals. You need to lighten the load on him.”

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