Italian outfit Lecce is reportedly setting sights on a loan deal for Celtic’s seldom-seen defender, Gustaf Lagerbielke. [Gianluca Di Marzio]
Despite joining the Bhoys just last summer, the Swede has found himself more often on the sidelines than in the thick of the action. His appearances have been sporadic, but when he’s graced the pitch, his impact hasn’t gone unnoticed. Lagerbielke has helped secure clean sheets in all of his five league starts, notably keeping the rivals quiet at Ibrox earlier this season.
Not just a wall in the defence, Gustaf’s also had his heroic moment, coming off the bench to net a dramatic winner against Feyenoord in the Champions League. A moment of magic for the Hoops, but it seems it hasn’t been enough to climb the ranks at Celtic Park. With game time scarce, a move away might just be the ticket for more regular football.
Enter Lecce. The Serie A side has shown interest in bolstering their squad with Lagerbielke’s services. But, as these things go, there’s a snag. Celtic’s keen on having most, if not all, of Gustaf’s wages covered in the loan deal, a stipulation that might just make negotiations a bit tricky.
As the transfer window progresses with speculation and whispers, the Hoops faithful will be watching keenly.
Will Lagerbielke swap the green and white for a stint in Italy, or is there still a chapter left to be written for him at Celtic? Only time will tell.
