Kieran Devlin has dropped an update on the future of Celtic loanee Cameron Carter-Vickers.
What’s the talk?
In a recent Q&A on The Athletic, the Celtic correspondent suggested that, despite the reported interest of a number of Premier League and Championship sides, Ange Postecoglou’s side do have an option to buy clause written into the 24-year-old’s temporary contract at Parkhead – something which Devlin believes the club wish to activate this summer.
However, the journalist continues to state that the USA international could refuse Celtic’s offer of personal terms in favour of a move elsewhere, with Carter-Vickers being believed to have preferred a switch to Newcastle United last summer.
In response to a question asking for an update on the defender’s situation, Devlin said: “Celtic have first say with their option-to-buy and they definitely want him, but ultimately it’ll be down to the player, I believe.
“Newcastle was his preference in August but their interest wasn’t serious enough, so when Spurs called Celtic and offered them him on deadline day they readily accepted – they’d enquired about a loan with option-to-buy earlier that month but Spurs initially rejected it wanting only a permanent move, but by deadline day they just wanted him out the squad.
“Not sure how that’s changed and wouldn’t want to speculate – whether he now feels at home at Celtic or whether his performances attracting EPL attention will swivel his head.”
Then, in response to a further question asking whether Tottenham Hotspur would legally have to accept an offer from Celtic for the centre-back, the journalist added: “Don’t want to speculate too much as some options-to-buy can have weird clauses, but technically yes. The player himself can spike that though.”
Postecoglou will be sweating
While it is true that Celtic do have what is effectively first refusal on the signing of Carter-Vickers this summer, the news that the player himself could reject a permanent switch to Parkhead in favour of a move to a Premier League side is sure to have both Postecoglou and fans of the club sweating.
Indeed, over his 23 Premiership appearances this season, the £2.7m-rated defender has been in imperious form for the Hoops, helping his side keep 12 clean sheets, scoring two goals and providing one assist, in addition to making an average of 1.2 interceptions, one tackle, 79.4 passes, 4.5 clearances and winning six duels – at a success rate of 69% – per game.
These metrics have seen the £20k-per-week centre-back average a quite astonishing SofaScore match rating of 7.34, ranking the American as the sixth-best player in the top flight of Scottish football.
As such, it is clear for all to see that losing the services of Carter-Vickers next summer would come as a major blow to Postecoglou, who will undoubtedly be hoping that the 24-year-old has been convinced by the project at Celtic Park during his year-long stint in order to put pen to paper on a permanent deal at the end of the season.
In other news: Ange must brutally axe £21.5k-p/w Celtic flop, he’s no longer “up there with the best”