It looks like Gus Lagerbielke’s future could run until the close of the transfer window on Thursday.
Interest in the defender from Lecce was first noted on January 10, more than two weeks later it seems that there is still a gulf to be negotiated with Celtic to secure a switch to Serie A.
Lagerbielke has experienced a bizarre five months at Celtic but it looks unlikely that he’ll have much involvement if a transfer isn’t settled this week.
At the start of September the young Swede was helping Celtic to victory in the Glasgow Derby alongside Liam Scales, yesterday he was watching from the stand as Scales and Cameron Carter-Vickers formed the hoops defensive partnership with Maik Nawrocki and Stephen Welsh on the bench.
In-between times Lagerbielke has been sent off and scored the winning goal in the Champions League but it seems that the defender’s Celtic chapter is about to come to a close.
UPDATE: Lecce still want Celtic defender Gustaf Lagerbielke on loan before the window closes.@SkySport understands they’re still trying to work on a deal for the Swedish centre-back.
Lecce would require Celtic to pay a large proportion of his wages, for the move to happen. https://t.co/xqlyShStFV pic.twitter.com/UP8oWXwhwA
— Anthony Joseph (@AnthonyRJoseph) January 28, 2024
Joseph’s tweet does contain some interesting detail about wages, it seems that a standard wage with Lecce is significantly lower than the terms that Lagerbielke is on with Celtic.
Coming from Elfsborg on a five year contract in August wouldn’t put the defender up among Celtic’s highest earners but it seems to have caused an impasse in a possible move despite Lecce being keen on someone surplus to requirements at Celtic.
During December there was an expectation that the Celtic squad would be significantly trimmed but so far only Kwon Hyeok-kyu has moved on, joining St Mirren on loan.
Celtic fans are looking for more signings in addition to Nicolas Kuhn but unless there is a real frenzy of activity in midweek it seems like the squad going into February will be much the same as the squad assembled during the first half of the season.
CLICK HERE for the contract offer that Carter-Vickers rejected to sign new Celtic deal.
CLICK HERE for Lagerbielke’s Transfermarkt profile.
