Charlie Nicholas called for Celtic to lead the race to land defender Pablo Mari from Arsenal and the pundit could have got half his wish. The wheels are in motion for Spanish centre-back to find a new club this summer after Mikel Arteta opened the exit door.
The pundit set the transfer agenda with his hot take on Ange Postecoglou's recruitment as the former Sky Sports man told the Australian to bolster his ranks at the heart of the defence for the Champions League. The Scottish champions are preparing to rub shoulders with Europe's elite and Nicholas insisted the team need another left-sided defender for the campaign ahead.
Moritz Jenz and Cameron Carter-Vickers have already been added this summer at the back , with Carl Starfelt set to return from injury in the near future following on from Stephen Welsh's bright start to the campaign. However, newly found transfer guru Nicholas reckons the Spaniard is the missing piece of Postecoglou's puzzle.
He told the Australian: "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.
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."
The 28-year-old spent last season on loan at Udinese, and Nicholas comments appear to have jogged the memory of clubs that Mari could be an option. But, just not Celtic.
The Daily Express report that Serie A new boys Monza are keen on a deal while with rivals Hellas Verona also tracking a deal. I Biancoross are reportedly keen to hold for face-to-face negotiations.
Fenerbache have also been named as a potential destination. Mari has been told he is free to find a new club this summer with the centre-back well down the pecking order at Parkhead.
So Charlie may not have got this one bang on. But he's maybe also helping chairman and managers in Italy make big calls with their budget?
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