Celtic and Brendan Rodgers will undoubtedly be planning recruitment for next season.
With a Champions League qualifier to be negotiated, the Celtic manager knows he needs to have the personnel in place early to ensure that group stage football comes to Parkhead again next season.
To do that, Rodgers needs the right players in, and the Hoops boss has already started that ball rolling with the upcoming signing of Arsenal defender Kieran Tierney’s return to Celtic Park.
With Greg Taylor looking like he is set to move on at the end of the season, Celtic need another left-back to support Tierney and Michael Stewart reckons that there is one from the Premier League that should need no encouragement to make the move to Glasgow.
Photo by Ryan Crockett/DeFodi Images via Getty Images
Photo by Ryan Crockett/DeFodi Images via Getty Images
Michael Stewart says Jeffrey Schlupp is ‘perfectly situated’ to make move to Celtic
When asked if Schlupp is now the Celtic first-choice left-back now, Stewart said that the on-loan Crystal Palace man is ‘perfectly situated’ to fill that left fullback role for Rodgers.
Stewart said on Premier Sports, “I think so, I think it’s fair to say. I mean, obviously, the whole dynamic with Greg Taylor, the whole contract situation, is clearly an issue.
“Schlupp has come in, and he’s done fairly well. He’s a powerful player, he can play higher up. He can step into the middle of the way that Celtic like to play, so he’s perfectly situated to go and fill the role that Brendan Rodgers wants from a left-back.”
Schlupp has made nine appearances for Celtic so far and scored one and created one. On his way to another title win, the Ghanaian could also pick up the Scottish Cup at the end of the season if the Hoops make the Hampden final.
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Jeffrey Schlupp told to leave Crystal Palace and make ‘no-brainer’ move to Celtic
Carrying the conversation further, Stewart also told Schlupp that playing at Celtic is a far more attractive option than staying at Crystal Palace.
Stewart continued, “If Greg Taylor does eventually move on at the end of the season, I would imagine that Brendan Rodgers would be looking to keep Schlupp along with, obviously, Kieran Tierney coming back.
“No disrespect to Crystal Palace, but where would you rather be playing at his stage of the career? A chance of winning things at Celtic, playing in the Champions League, it’s a no-brainer.
“Coupled with the fact that his contract’s up anyway.”
At 32, Schlupp has a wealth of experience and is nearing the end of a career that has spanned 20 years, spells at Leicester City, Brentford and Crystal Palace and 20 caps for his country.
Being able to add more winners medals and experience Champions League football again would be enough to tempt any footballer but to do it at Celtic?
Stewart is correct, it is a no-brainer move.