Starfelt hopes Carter-Vickers stays
CARL STARFELT has forged a strong bond with Cameron Carter-Vickers on and off the pitch. And the Swedish international hopes Celtic find a way to make the partnership a permanent arrangement before a Champions League adventure. Tottenham central defender Carter-Vickers is coming to the end of a year-long loan in Glasgow. One of the star performers in Celtic’s march to the league title, the American international has interest from English clubs. Admitting he would love the 24-year-old to pledge his future to the club next season, however, Starfelt said: ‘Cameron is a very good player and easy to play with. But also, our relationship is very good, the chemistry is very good. We have become friends outside the pitch as well and we can speak freely about situations. ‘So that helps and, yeah, we have an understanding about each other and each other’s games and what we want and what we need from each other. ‘Of course I would like to play with him because he is a very good player. But we will wait and see. ‘I know nothing more than you guys. I don’t think it’s up to me to persuade him. We will wait and see. It’s not up to me whether he stays or not.’ For now, minds are focused on securing the point which would win the Premiership title against Dundee United this evening.
Starfelt added: ‘It’s going to be a very big game for many of our players, including myself. It’s the chance for me to win my very first league title, so that makes it a huge day for me. ‘Hopefully, we can secure it. ‘I know we’ll have a lot of Celtic fans there, so it would be great for them, the players and the staff if we can get this done.’ A £4.5million signing from Rubin Kazan last summer, Starfelt admits to some relief at leaving for Glasgow before the outbreak of hostilities in Ukraine prompted a UEFA ban for Russian clubs. Presented with a chance to play in the Champions League for the first time next season, he admitted: ‘That’s huge, obviously. The Champions League, I would say, is club-wise one of the biggest things you can do.’