Celtic centre-back Stephen Welsh signed a new four-year deal with the club on Friday morning.
The 23-year-old said extending his contract with his boyhood club was a simple decision.
Brendan Rodgers’ arrival has undoubtedly aided the Scotland youth international, although news of his new contract may have implications for other members of the treble-winning squad. Cameron Carter-Vickers, Maik Nawrocki, Gustaf Lagerbielke will be above Welsh in the Parkhead pecking orders.
Celtic’s Stephen Welsh celebrates scoring their first goal Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith
Particularly after his new deal, Welsh has nailed down a place in Rodgers’ squad, and due to this, the futures of Yuki Kobayashi and Liam Scales have been thrown into doubt. Both being around causes an overload at the heart of defence because having four players who can play there is sufficient enough.
Scales and Kobayashi will likely be offloaded now. Aberdeen have been long-term admirers of the Irishman; meanwhile, a loan return to Japan has previously been touted for the former Vissel Kobe defender.
Despite appearing in pre-season, it is growingly likely that Kobayashi and Scales will no longer be Celtic players by the end of the summer transfer window. News of Welsh’s new deal will likely only speed up their departures.
