Celts stubbs spread
wants. It shows he is also getting advised very well.
“There are not many clubs Patrick can go to that can offer him Champions League football and the culture and environment he will get at Celtic. That is really important to him.
“You cannot underestimate those factors and they largely explain why he decided to carry on his development as a player with Celtic.”
While Stubbs is thrilled to see Roberts back in Celtic colours he reckons the collapse of defender Rivaldo Coetzee’s move to Celtic from Ajax Cape Town in South Africa at the weekend could not have happened at a worse time for the Scottish champions. But he wouldn’t put it past Rodgers to recruit an experienced defender in the Toure mould from the English Premier League as a short-term fix as Celtic countdown towards Champions League group clashes with Bayern Munich, PSG and Anderlecht. Stubbs watched on last week as Celtic’s defensive frailties were cruelly exposed in Kazakhstan against Astana in the play-off round second leg. After winning the first leg 5-0 the Hoops trailed 4-1 at one point before two late goals saw them advance to the money-spinning group stages 8-4 on aggregate. Stubbs said: “The injuries to key defenders are giving Celtic cause for concern but getting through to the Champions League is very important to the club. “Once you get through you are testing yourself against the creme de la creme of European opposition. “In the past it was all about getting there and whatever happened after that was a bonus as they were not expected to progress in the competition. “Now the parameters are starting to change for Celtic and Brendan. There is an expectation there as the club are head and shoulders above anybody domestically. “Celtic will now look to push those parameters in the Champions League as that is the ultimate test. “There has been a big spanner put in the works with the Coetzee deal falling through. Celtic will have thought that deal was done and dusted and now suddenly they are back to the drawing board because of the medical.
“The club need a new defender to come in who is going to be able to compete at Champions League level because they gave themselves and their supporters some hairy moments in the second leg in Astana.
“The transfer window is just two days away from closing and everybody knows Celtic are needing a new centre-back.
“Clubs may be reluctant to part with their players because it will leave them no time to get replacements in.
“However, it wouldn’t surprise me if Celtic signed a defender who is not currently getting a game in the English Premier League.
“That player may even be 32 or 33 years of age and someone in the Kolo Toure mould who is very experienced would fit the bill.
“I’m sure the club were looking at a young defender like Coetzee to come in so they could develop him.
“Celtic now have to go down the line of getting somebody in as a short-term fix in order to cope with the Champions League matches. That would be the best and most sensible option for the club.
“If they could get another player of Toure’s ilk then I think Brendan would be very happy with that. The collapse of the Coetzee deal has come at the worst possible time for Celtic.
“A lot of players could be on international duty this week and trying to get deals done could prove to be very difficult.
“Bringing Roberts back to Celtic was a no-brainer but the priority now for Brendan Rodgers must be to bring in a quality, experienced defender before the transfer window slams shut on Thursday.”