A fresh name has emerged as a potential defensive reinforcement for Celtic, with Brendan Rodgers reportedly targeting Ligue 1 centre-back Étienne Youte, according to L’Equipe.
The 23‑year‑old Frenchman, who stands an imposing 6’5″, currently plays for Le Havre and has been a consistent performer in France’s top tier over the past three seasons. Born in Lyon, Youte spent his formative years with Troyes’ youth academy before a switch to the storied Inter Milan youth setup. He later enjoyed a loan spell at Olympiacos B before returning to France with Le Havre.
Crucially for Celtic, Youte enters the final year of his contract and is available for a reduced fee of around £3.4 million.
Rodgers has already confirmed that bolstering the backline is a priority this transfer window, with Maik Nawrocki already departed and Gustaf Lagerbielke edging closer to a move elsewhere. Étienne Youte’s profile seems to fit the criteria – age, physical presence, France top-flight experience, and value.
Should the deal go ahead, Youte would join the likes of Kieran Tierney and Hayato Inamura in arriving at a time when Celtic’s backline is being reshaped.
All eyes are now on this link to work out just how credible it is, with pre-season preparations ramping up.
