Celtic centre-back and USMNT standout Cameron Carter-Vickers has reportedly attracted interest from Bayer Leverkusen, though no formal offer has been made at this stage.
The Bundesliga title challengers are exploring defensive reinforcements, and Carter-Vickers’ consistency at Celtic Park have placed him firmly on their radar.
Leverkusen, managed by Xabi Alonso, are aiming to strengthen their backline as they chase Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga title race.
However, Celtic are in no rush to sell and have made it clear they value Carter-Vickers highly.
Any deal for the defender in the January window would require a bid of at least £20 million, says Micheal Stewart when appearing on the Scottish Football Social Club with Alan Hutton.
The former Rangers defender believes Celtic will only consider selling if the offer is substantial: “You don’t want to lose him. Not at this time, unless it’s something ridiculous. He is the stand-in captain, so it shows you how big a character he is. But look, money talks at the end of the day. But Celtic are renowned for when a player gets to a certain level they move him on.”
Michael Stewart added: “Celtic are in such a good financial position that you start talking for their main assets £20-25million. Cameron Carter-Vickers is at a great age, he has developed into a fantastic defender and it would probably take the likes of Bayer Leverkusen or a big club on the continent to prise him away from Celtic.”
Despite the speculation, Carter-Vickers remains focused on Celtic.
The 25-year-old has played a key role in the Hoops’ successful start to the season, which already includes lifting the Premier Sports Cup. With two more trophies still in sight, Carter-Vickers’ immediate goals lie in continuing Celtic’s domestic dominance and performing in Europe.
The defender might eye a return to the English Premier League in the future, having previously played in the division with Tottenham Hotspur.
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers faces a balancing act. While Carter-Vickers is a vital part of the squad, the club’s history of selling players for significant profit cannot be ignored. Celtic are in a strong financial position, which allows them to negotiate from a position of strength, but a January exit doesn’t look likely.
