Stephen Welsh is attracting interest from Italy once again and could be one of the first players to leave under Brendan Rodgers, according to a report.
The Celtic defender is emerging as a target for Serie A outfit Hellas Verona with Bologna also keeping a close eye say the Daily Mail. The 23-year-old has fallen well down the pecking order at the Scottish champions in recent times and is now keen to secure first-team football and that could mean he is the latest Scot to head over to Italy.
Aaron Hickey made the move from Hearts and has since moved on to the English Premier League with Brentford in a big money deal and established himself as a regular in Steve Clarke's Scotland set-up. Lewis Ferguson and Josh Doig have also impressed since making the move from Scotland.
Speaking about his own transfer plans and continuing to tap into the Asian transfer market, Rodgers said: “Over the course of our discussions I’ve seen the market we’re in and how well the recruitment has gone. Mark Lawwell has this pipeline of players that are available and I think what he’s done since he’s come in has been really impressive - and the markets he’s been able to tap into.
“That will continue. That’s where the club is at. Listen, when you’ve got top players at the club they are always going to attract attention elsewhere.
“Those boys have come in and done exceptionally well. Good players will always attract attention. But I don’t worry about that. As manager, you have knowledge of certain markets or knowledge that you might be able to get a player that’s just become available.
“I know how I want the team to play. Celtic as a club is about offensive, aggressive, attacking football. What I am coming into is a team that’s playing that way. We’ll just look at adapting that and making changes.
“In terms of recruitment I am the one that knows how I want the team to play and I have to be involved in those discussions. And I will be. Some of those markets haven’t been as readily available to some clubs, that’s something Mark has brought with him in his roles.
“I’m thinking of the Japanese market, the Korean market, Australia and out into Asia. These were players that were untapped and you’re now seeing other clubs trying to tap into that.”
