Celtic signing this Norwegian star for just £4m would solve a key problem for Brendan Rodgers

Why Omar Elabdellaoui would be a brilliant signing for Celtic

Celtic have entered the winter break of the Scottish Premiership sitting comfortably at 1st place, level on points with rivals Rangers but having played a game less. They also have a better goal difference and defensive record when compared to their rivals.

While Celtic have looked a slightly superior side since the start of the season, it is still far too early to get complacent. They have to keep churning out results at a consistent pace while also dealing with European responsibilities. Odsonne Edouard and James Forrest have both been sensational this term and have notched up 17 goals between themselves.

Leigh Griffiths and Michael Johnston have both also scored crucial goals when called upon by Brendan Rodgers. In the defensive phase, Filip Benkovic and Dedryck Boyata have been quite good while Mikael Lustig has really nailed down the right-back role.

The Swede has started 15 of the 20 league games they have played this season while second-choice Cristian Gamboa has still only made one appearance all campaign. While it is clear that Rodgers can’t trust Gamboa to deliver on a consistent basis, Lustig is already 32 years old and his best days could be behind him.

In the second part of the season, as the title race rages on, the fatigue will slowly begin to take its toll and not having cover could cost any team dearly. This means that Rodgers must be on the lookout for a right-back who can challenge Lustig for the starting spot.

According to Daily Star, Rodgers is looking to attain the signature of £4m Norwegian international defender Omar Elabdellaoui from Greek side Olympiacos. His previous experience in the Premier League will be very useful to the Scottish outfit who could use some fresher legs on the flanks.

The right-back has played 34 games for the Norwegian national team. He developed as a player at Manchester City before eventually ending up in Greece with Olympiacos in 2014. After spending a year on loan at Hull City from the Greek side in 2017, he has played for Olympiacos since and has grown into an important player.

Read More: Celtic beating Rangers to sign this 22-year-old League One sensation is an absolute no-brainer for Rodgers

This could be a very good signing for the title-chasing Celtic as the longevity of the season may have an effect on the older players in the ranks.

While competition for any position is good to motivate players, it can also help the manager identify the capabilities of all the players and see what works best. Hence, this would be an excellent signing for Celtic.