Stephen Welsh

Here we go jack Hendry number 2. Sell him for £2 mil and they’ll sell him to Brugge for £6 mil

 

As long as we put in a decent sell on clause everyone wins so hope that happens.

 

Another one who clogs up the squad. PUNT.
He’ll probably get injured on the way back to Belgium.

 

He's done what we've asked of him here, go abroad and do well and you get a transfer at the end. I hope he gets a good transfer and carries on getting regular football.

Going to be honest though, this is the sort of loan he should have had a couple of years ago to help him get experience to fight for a place here. No footballer will develop with one or two gams here and there.

 

Ferencvaros are the latest club to have expressed an interest in signing Celtic defender Stephen Welsh.


The Celtic Way understands that the Hungarian champions, who are managed by former Celtic striker Robbie Keane, are monitoring the player's situation.

Belgian side KV Mechelen are also keen to land Welsh on a permanent deal after a successful loan spell in the second half of last season.

The central defender has two years left on his current Celtic contract and is currently due to return to the Scottish champions for pre-season training in July

Welsh helped the Belgians reach the European play-offs after he made the move from Parkhead in January, although they missed out on competing in a UEFA competition next season.

The 25-year-old scored his first goal for Mechelen in his final appearance against FCV Dender last weekend.

The stopper has impressed his potential suitors greatly during his 19 first-team appearances, and he has made no secret of the fact that he enjoyed his loan spell.

Welsh said, "I have loved every minute of it. I think it is the best thing I have done, it is almost like a refresh for six months to go and play football at a top level.”

Keane has just guided Ferencvaros to their 36th Hungarian title, and they will now take part in the Champions League qualifying process.

However, they cannot face Celtic. Like the Scottish champions, they would be seeded if they make it into the play-off round.

 

Good luck to him, always gave his all

 

Should have had him out learning the game at 21. He had the potential then if he got the games, and had the options to play in really strong leagues on loan at the time. He was good enough for covering emergency’s for us though, so we kept him for that. And played him maybe 8/9 games instead of getting him a full season in a different sort of culture of football to learn and come back and maybe have a tilt at being first choice next to CCV.

If not, another year somewhere at 22 he comes back 23 with 2 full seasons in a European League under his belt, maybe 70-80 games week in and out. Instead we allowed him to stagnate until he’s no longer young potential. At 24 you should be emerging into the player you are rather than young and inexperienced. We done him dirty and in the process short term thinking might have stopped us from having a cracking player.

 

A few offers on the table for him, so expect him to be the next centre back out the door after Lagerbielke and Nawrocki.

Means we’ll need to bring two in.

 

Annoyingly it’s just poor planning from the club. If Trusty doesn’t really kick on, then we’ll have 3 left footed CBs (including Inamura) who aren’t up to it. And one right footed CB who is our best in the position but injury prone.

Ideally we’d have CCV and a younger right footed CB with potential. Quality LCB with Trusty as back up. And Inamura in as 5th choice.

 

On the other hand, if we're getting rid of Lagerbielke, Welsh and Nawrocki all within a short period, you'd think we'd have another CB lined up alongside Inamura.

Wonder if it's that 17 year old CB we supposedly bid for.

 

Aye we’ll definitely need another CB.

My point is that other CB has to be a right sided one because CCV is our only option there. But what we actually need most of all is a quality, first choice left sided CB. Which I just can’t see us signing if we have Trusty, Scales and Inamura.

Unless Inamura is seen as a back up left back who can cover CB. Which I doubt.

 

One of Trusty's biggest issues was his ability to play out from the back but with Tierney returning I think that mitigates that's considerably.

It couldn't have been easy playing lcb when the lb constantly ran inside meaning his only option wide was the left winger and majority of the time that was Maeda, who for all his qualities, showing and recieving the ball into feet wermt it.

Having a more conventional left back playing wide should make it easier for the lcb to find a progressive outball

 

Yeah I agree, unless Scales or Trusty are moving on, Any CB we bring in is likely to he a right footed one as Rodgers now seems insistent on having a left footed CB at LCB so new cb is only gonna be a CCV backup, which begs the question, why not just keep Nawrocki?

 

100% guaranteed hes playing in our CL qualifier, we know its coming, lol

 

I doubt he will be here come that. Rodgers quotes after the game don’t even mention him when talking about centre back options and he does mention Dane Murray. The one I am a bit surprised isn’t getting a mention is Agbaire. Mind you a loan to a Dt Mirren or DUTD would be good for him.

 

Like I said about Kenny, it's 20 mil minimum bid these days....put up or shut up.

That's where we're at right now,

It's no the barras yer at big shot....we name the price....no you....

Boy's like a young Baresi tell them,

20 mil...no less

 

Stephen Welsh could be on the move this summer, with Belgian side KV Mechelen showing serious interest in re-signing the Celtic defender following his loan spell last season, Celtsarehere understands.


The 25-year-old spent six months on loan at the Pro League club, making 17 appearances and scoring once. Mechelen were impressed by his performances and are now weighing up a permanent deal — though nothing has been finalised.



Welsh came through Celtic’s academy and has made over 50 first-team appearances since his debut in 2020. While he signed a new contract two years ago — which runs until 2027 — he remains on the fringes of Brendan Rodgers’ plans. The Celtic boss does not view him as a starting option, and with competition at centre-back only increasing, the club are open to offers



Valued at around £1 million, Welsh would be an affordable signing for Mechelen. The Belgian side are expected to push for a deal, though it remains to be seen whether Celtic will hold out for a higher fee or if other clubs enter the mix.



Despite being a dependable squad player, Welsh’s chances of regular game time at Parkhead are slim. Rodgers is keen to strengthen his backline this summer and has shown a clear preference for other options in defence. A move abroad could offer Welsh a fresh start and the consistent minutes he needs at this stage of his career.

Nothing is done yet, but signs point to a likely exit. Discussions are ongoing, and Celtic are open to cashing in while the defender still has strong contract value.

 

Need to get him fit again ASAP and then sell him.

He's cooked.