As Celtic rapidly approach their first competitive match of the season next week, they’re still holding their cards close to the chest when it comes to transfers this summer.
So far only two players have arrived at Celtic Park; Jonny Hayes and Kundai Benyu. While these two will undoubtedly add something to the squad, the Hoops have yet to bring a big marquee signing to the club.
Fans are more expectant in this transfer window than almost ever before with the club making plenty of money last season in the UEFA Champions League and Brendan Rodgers showing an ambition that’s long been absent at Celtic Park.
Much of the recent transfer rumour chatter has been surrounding Chelsea youngster Charly Musonda, who The Daily Mail reported earlier this week as being close to joining the Hoops.
While Musonda would be a top signing for the Hoops, we reckon there’s another Chelsea fringe star flying under the radar who is ready for life in Glasgow; Mario Pasalic.
Rated at £6.8m by Transfermarkt, is he the next big signing to arrive at Celtic?
Here are THREE reasons why the club should be going all-out to get him…
He just had a great season at AC Milan
Although he has yet to make his debut at Chelsea, despite being at the club since 2014, that’s not to say that Mario Pasalic isn’t already making a name for himself on the European scene.
He’s coming off the back of a fine season at AC Milan, where he made 26 appearances and scored five goals from the heart of midfield.
While Milan may not have had the best campaign they’ve ever had, failing to qualify for Europe in Serie A, you still need to possess a certain quality to be selected consistently for the Italian giants. It certainly suggests he has more than enough to talent to make an impact in the Scottish Premiership.
Milan’s only real moment of joy last season was winning the Italian Supercup against Juventus in December and it was the young Croatian midfielder who scored the winning penalty that night.
He’s been playing top-flight football for 5 years
Mario Pasalic isn’t a player who has been content sitting on the fringes of Chelsea first-team waiting for his chance and not gathering experience. Since joining the Blues in 2014 he has been sent out on three season-long loans to very decent outfits; La Liga side Elche, Monaco and as we’ve discussed Milan.
Over the course of those three seasons he’s made 90 appearances in all competitions, which points to a player gaining a wealth of knowledge in different leagues, a potential massive positive for Celtic who need cultured players to bring them to new heights in European competition.
Before joining Chelsea he was also a key player for Hajduk Split in the Croatian top-flight, making 39 appearances and scoring 11 goals, form that made the Stamford Bridge side sit up and take notice.
Despite being just 22, he has a wealth of experience in different countries and frankly, that alone is impressive.
He completes the puzzle in Rodgers’ midfield
With Callum McGregor and Stuart Armstrong, Celtic found really effective partners to pair up with veteran Scott Brown in the heart of the Hoops midfielder. They provided the kind of running and forward thinking play that complements the Celtic captain so well in the latter stages of his career.
In Europe though, both of those players struggled and while they’ve certainly improved in the six months since the Hoops last played in the UEFA Champions League, there are still question marks about their ability to make an impact in the group stages.
The duo have done enough to earn regular games at Celtic next season and we’re not suggesting Pasalic would come in and be an immediate replacement, but he’d certainly add competition and a classy, creative option to the middle of the park for the Hoops. He gained vital European experience with Monaco in 2015/16, making nine appearances in UEFA competition and scoring twice.
With his international future with Croatia also bright, gaining 2 caps thus far, he could grow into the European-level central midfielder Brendan Rodgers is looking for.