Celtic are reportedly closing in on the signing of Rubin Kazan midfielder Oliver Abildgaard, with the Danish ace set to be the Parkhead outfit’s ninth major deal of the summer.
What’s the word?
That’s according to journalist Fabrizio Romano, who revealed on Twitter this morning that a deal for the 26-year-old is imminent, stating: “Celtic are now set to sign Danish midfielder Oliver Abildgaard. Deal in place, agreement has been reached now waiting to sign contracts.
The Old Firm giants have only recently plucked winger Sead Haksabanovic from the Russian outfit, having previously signed defender Carl Starfelt from the same club last summer.
Bitton heir
It looks as if title-winning coach Ange Postecoglou is set to finally fill the void left behind by Nir Bitton, with the Israeli international having left Glasgow at the end of last season following a glittering nine-year stint in the Premiership.
The 6 foot 5 brute – who featured predominantly in holding midfield or at centre-back – had enjoyed something of a renaissance under the former Yokohama boss last term, making 38 appearances in all competitions to prove himself as a valuable asset to the squad.
The 39-cap gem racked up 271 appearances for the club in all competitions after joining from SC Ashdod back in 2013, scoring 15 goals and registering 16 assists along with winning a staggering haul of domestic honours, including eight league titles.
Although not a crucial figure in Postecoglou’s side, the departure of the reliable colossus has left the 56-year-old without a genuine holding midfield option, with a more defensive-minded alternative to that of skipper Callum McGregor likely needed in front of the back four on occasion.
At 6 foot 4, Abildgaard is an ideal fit to replace Bitton’s imposing presence in the Celtic team, having proven himself as a hugely effective ball-winner in his role at the base of the midfield in recent times.
The £6.3m-rated giant notably averaged 1.7 tackles and 2.1 interceptions from his 20 league outings last term, with that record far superior to the aforementioned McGregor, who averaged 1.5 and 0.7 for the same two metrics respectively.
The one-cap Denmark international also mirrors Bitton with his threat in the air, having won 74% of his aerial duels in the league during the 2021/22 campaign, with the former Hoops man only just behind after averaging 69% for the same metric.
Another largely unknown quantity that the Scottish champions look set to acquire – as Bitton was all those years ago – the club’s recent track record would suggest that Abildgaard could well prove to be a success.
