‘Tyrell Malacia to Celtic is a great deal’ – Man United transfer nears
Celtic will struggle to compete with Eredivisie clubs for the signature of Manchester United left-back Tyrell Malacia this summer.
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson wasn’t optimistic about Celtic’s chances of signing Malacia either on loan or a permanent deal.
Malacia is one of five Man United players marked for the exit door after expressing his desire to leave the club this summer, and has begun pre-season training away from Ruben Amorim’s main group as a result.
The 25-year-old spent last season on loan at PSV and despite making just eight Eredivisie appearances, Robinson has told Football Insider that other Dutch clubs are interested in Malacia alongside Celtic.
Celtic are on the hunt for a new left-back after Greg Taylor’s move to PAOK, but Robinson told Football Insider that Brendan Rodgers’ side won’t be able to compete against the Eredivisie clubs financially.
Celtic’s Malacia swoop faces Dutch Eredivisie battle
Man United would prefer to sell rather than loan Malacia this summer with just a year left on his contract, but it’s unclear if Celtic want to permanently sign direct competition for the returning Kieran Tierney.
Speaking on the latest Inside Track, Robinson doubted whether Celtic would be able to go toe-to-toe with interested Eredivisie clubs for Malacia’s signature, citing his high wages as a key sticking point.
“I’m not so sure that Celtic can compete with the wages he might get offered elsewhere, or what it would take to sign him permanently”, Robinson told Football Insider.
“He’s a top quality player and still only 25 years old – he’s not had a look-in at Manchester United and was loaned out last year.
“It would look a good fit and a great deal, but I think there’ll be other suitors for him. I think a move back to the Eredivisie would seem more obvious.
“The type of wages that he’ll get offered back in Holland would be more appealing to Malacia.”
Celtic signings needed elsewhere with Malacia arrival unlikely
Rodgers may have lost a dependable option at left-back in the form of Taylor this summer, but Tierney’s celebratory return to Celtic Park provides an immediate upgrade and an automatic starter at left-back.
Further forward, Celtic have lost Nicholas Kuhn to Como in a £17.3million deal and are still yet to replace Kyoog Furuhashi up front, leaving Rodgers with pressing concerns up front ahead of the new season.
Napoli striker Giuseppe Ambrosino has been linked with a switch to Parkhead to try and fill the gaps left by Kyogo and Kuhn, and Rodgers’ priority will be on strengthening his frontline rather than additional left-back depth.