Celtic Eye €54,231-A-Week Star As Atalanta Seek Fresh Buyer: Best Decision For The Hoops?

Celtic Eye €54,231-A-Week Star As Atalanta Seek Fresh Buyer: Best Decision For The Hoops? Atalanta want to find the best buyer for their 26-year-old left-back Mitchel Bakker before the August window closes. According to transfer reporter Ekrem Konur , Celtic have shown interest, while Atalanta expect a decisive development within the next few days. Konur’s report points to a market situation around a defender whose contract runs until June 2027. Celtic have emerged as one of the clubs monitoring the opportunity, although no agreement has followed the reported interest. Atalanta have every reason to listen, given his limited involvement last season. That lack of football comes from a setback. Atalanta confirmed in July 2025 that Bakker suffered a torn ACL in his right knee during training, then underwent surgery that included ACL reconstruction and a peripheral meniscus repair. His rehabilitation dictated a season in which he made just one Serie A appearance and played nine minutes. T4O take: Celtic should avoid a costly permanent deal BERGAMO, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 02: Mitchel Bakker of Atalanta BC in action during the Serie A TIM match between Atalanta BC and AC Monza at Gewiss Stadium on September 02, 2023 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Emilio Andreoli/Getty Images) Celtic should resist any temptation to turn this situation into an expensive permanent signing. Bakker brings an attractive CV, having played for Ajax, Paris Saint-Germain and Bayer Leverkusen, while his physical profile suits a demanding wing-back role. Atalanta signed him in 2023 after his Leverkusen spell, which included European football and strong experience at big clubs. Yet the medical and sporting risk matters far more right now. A severe knee injury can disrupt acceleration, confidence and match rhythm, and those qualities are valuable for a side that expect their wide defenders to repeat high-intensity actions. Spending heavily on a player who logged only nine minutes last season would leave Celtic carrying too much uncertainty. Celtic can make sense on a loan A loan would create a different proposition. Atalanta could subsidise part of his estimated €54,231 weekly wage, while Celtic could avoid a mandatory purchase clause and assess Bakker over competitive minutes. His 6ft 2in height, left-footed profile and experience across European football could give Martin O’Neill useful depth on the flank if Bakker regains his old athletic level. The club should walk away from a permanent deal if Atalanta demand a substantial fee. A stalled Marseille loan shows the market has not yet produced a clear solution, while interest from Italy and Turkey could create pressure. Celtic should ignore that noise. With a September deadline approaching, the smarter call is a conditional loan or a move for a healthy defender who can contribute immediately.