Pundit Marvin Bartley doesn’t think Celtic will spend £6-7 million on a new centre-back this summer. He believes Brendan Rodgers already has enough players in that position and will only look to sign a defender if someone leaves.

Speaking on Clyde 1 Superscoreboard, Bartley responded to a caller who said Celtic need to strengthen their defence. But Bartley said he doesn’t see that happening unless a key player is sold in the coming weeks.

Celtic have Cameron Carter-Vickers, Auston Trusty, and Liam Scales as their main centre-backs. They also have young players like Dane Murray in the squad. Maik Nawrocki is another option, while Gustaf Lagerbielke and Stephen Welsh are expected to return after loan spells in Europe.

With so many players already available in that area, Bartley thinks spending big money on another defender doesn’t make much sense.

He said: “I get it when people talk about bringing in another centre-half, but I do think it’s going to be a project centre-half. Somebody who has been given the opportunity to step up a level.

“I think this next person could put pressure on those two (Trusty and Scales) but I don’t think they’ll be spending another £6.5m to £7m on another centre-half when they’ve got Trusty and Cameron Carter-Vickers in those positions.

“I don’t think it will happen unless a centre-half is to leave the football club. He definitely will try and bolster the squad, but I don’t think he’ll bring in the players Laurie (caller) is talking about.”

However, it’s become clear that Celtic’s defence still needs work. While Carter-Vickers remains the standout, both Scales and Trusty showed signs they can be upgraded on. Scales had a steady season but struggled against tough opponents, and Trusty didn’t often look comfortable. If Celtic want to compete in Europe and push forward domestically, they may need a more reliable partner next to Carter-Vickers.

Players like Nawrocki and Lagerbielke have fallen down the pecking order. Nawrocki was sidelined for large spells and never nailed down a place, while Lagerbielke has been out on loan and is not expected to be part of Rodgers’ plans. With those two unlikely to feature, the real depth in central defence is thinner than it appears on paper.

Even if the club doesn’t splash £7 million on one player, adding a more experienced and proven defender could be vital. A new centre-back could bring leadership, physicality, and composure to a back line that lacked all three at times. Celtic’s performances in Europe last season showed the need for more quality in defence, especially when Carter-Vickers was unavailable.

So while Bartley may not expect a big-money move, the need for better options at centre-half is hard to ignore. If Celtic are serious about improving in Europe and dominating domestically, a key signing in that position may still be on the cards—whether it’s £7 million or not.