Charlie Mulgrew has added his voice to growing calls for Celtic to strengthen out wide, insisting his former club need two wingers before the transfer window closes and stressing why Yang Hyun-jun cannot be allowed to leave.

Speaking on Go Radio, the ex-Parkhead defender pointed to Brendan Rodgers’ limited options after the sale of Nicolas Kuhn and ongoing doubts around Yang’s long-term role.

Yang is a player that not many would have bothered if he departed this summer, but now, as things stand, it’s not even an idea that Celtic can consider. Brendan Rodgers himself has said as much.

Celtic have been heavily linked with Jakob Breum, but negotiations with Go Ahead Eagles have stalled after three failed bids, the most recent worth £2.6 million – still far short of the £6.5 million asking price.

“I said last week they need a winger,” Mulgrew said. “After playing Ajax, you seen Nygren playing as a kind of No. 8 midfielder. So you are thinking, is that where he is going to play? So then you would think they need two wingers.

“I can understand why they wouldn’t let Yang go. You can’t let a winger go when you’ve not got any in the building or wingers ready to start and make an impact. If Nygren is going to play as a No. 8 in the midfield area – I thought he came as a winger – then you need another two wingers. So you need to keep a hold of Yang until you get replacements.”

With just weeks to go before the transfer window shuts, Rodgers is facing increasing pressure to reinforce a key area of the squad. Celtic’s wide options currently consist of Daizen Maeda, Yang, James Forrest, and Marco Tilio – a group that, even on paper, lacks the quality and consistency needed to handle the rigours of both domestic and European competition.

Celtic can’t afford to stall any longer in the winger market, and they certainly can’t afford to let anyone else go before serious reinforcements arrive.