January Celtic target Schlager now available on a free | OneFootball

You may recall that Austrian midfielder Xaver Schlager was offered a pre-contract by Celtic earlier in the year...

However nothing was forthcoming from the player or his agent, as Schlager decided to keep his options open until the summer when his contract expired.

Schlager who played in all Austria’s World Cup games, was a RB Leipzig player last term, but is now without a club after his contract with the Bundesliga side expired last month.  So far he’s not been linked with any interested clubs despite being a free agent, so there may be an opportunity for Martin O’Neill to return to the table.

Approaching his 29th birthday, Schlager is still very much in the peak of his career, and with a wealth of experience at both club and international level, he’s very much a player I reckon that Celtic should be looking to sign. It would be worthwhile getting back in contact in a bid to persuade him to sign for the Scottish Champions. it could well be a case of second time luck and all that.

The Austrian is a typical box to box midfielder who has a terrific range of passing, whilst also being competent in his defensive duties. He’s also described as highly ‘press resistant’ which is an ideal quality for the more overzealous approach adopted by opponents in Scottish football.

Schlager also posses boundless energy, which allows him to transition between defence and attack, a trait that is glaringly absent from our side, and has been for some time.

The former RB Salzburg and Vfl Wolfsburg man who has 55 caps for his country, would likely instantly become one of the club’s highest earners if he were to sign, but it would prove to a shrewd investment in the long term.

Players in the mould of Schlager are usually well out of our price range, so this is a limited opportunity for Celtic to show some serious ambition, and swoop for a tried and tested class act who will instantly improve our starting XI.

With Arne Engels set to leave Celtic this summer for a record breaking transfer fee, Schlager could be the ideal replacement and his higher wages could be justified on the basis that no transfer fee would be required.

Just an Ordinary Bhoy

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