Celtic transfer paperwork expected to be finalised within hours after defender jets in – report

Tue 19 December 2017 8:49, UK

Celtic could complete the signing of defender Marvin Compper from RB Leipzig within hours, according to a report.

The Daily Record claimed on their live transfer blog on Tuesday [08:23AM] that Compper, 32, is due to jet into Glasgow to finalise paperwork for his move to Parkhead ahead of the January transfer window.

It is understood that the one-time Germany international could complete his move on Tuesday, meaning that Brendan Rodgers has already added an extra centre-back to his side.

The report adds that RB Leipzig have given the green light for Compper to exit the Bundesliga side in a deal the Scottish Sun claims to be worth £1million.

Compper has been surplus to requirements at Leipzig this season and has only made three appearances across all competitions.

The German defender featured in the Champions League group stage loss to Besiktas earlier this month, meaning that he will be ineligible to play for the Hoops in the Europa League last-32 clash with Zenit in February.

Football Insider verdict

Compper should be a decent addition to the Celtic squad, but is he an improvement on what Rodgers already has or just going to be used as back-up? Dedryck Boyata and Jozo Simunovic have been pretty poor in their recent outings and neither of them doing themselves any favours in the big Champions League clashes earlier this term. Compper won’t be able to take part in the Europa League so surely Rodgers will plan to bring in another centre-back to quell that problem as Erik Sviatchenko clearly isn’t fancied as the third choice option. It remains to be seen where Compper will fit in, but for £1million it’s still a decent deal that will patch over any potential injury nightmares.