Celtic has been told to target a move for Arsenal's left-sided centre-back Pablo Mari for Champions League football.
Cameron Carter-Vickers, Carl Starfelt, Stephen Welsh, Moritz Jenz and Christopher Jullien are among the senior central defensive options at Celtic for boss Ange Postecoglou. According to former Parkhead forward Charlie Nicholas, they are still missing someone who can play on the left of the central two, which he believes Pablo Mari can fill. He is currently at Arsenal but spent part of last season in Serie A with Udinese. Mari has made 22 appearances for the Gunners.
With elite European football coming to Glasgow next month, Nicholas writes in his Scottish Express column he could be a worthwhile addition: "I think Ange Postecoglou should go to the Arsenal to give his Celtic squad more defensive armoury - especially for the Champions League. The player I would try and get would be Pablo Mari at Arsenal.
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"The Spaniard is experienced, is naturally left-sided, is a real presence and is a good, good player. The fact he is at Arsenal and had previously been at Manchester City shows the sort of quality Mari has.
"I still feel the team still needs another left-sided central defender, especially if they want to make a real impression in the group stages of Europe’s top club competition.
"I know Ange has Carl Starfelt and brought in Moritz Jenz for Lorient, who can play there, but I would prefer a natural left-sided player, somebody who is comfortable on the ball and good at playing out."
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