Gustaf Lagerbielke, barring a career revival not seen since Michael Keaton in Birdman, is almost certain to have worn those green and white stripes for the final time.
Brendan Rodgers could not speak highly enough of Lagerbielke’s professionalism behind the scenes. Or, indeed, his ‘brilliant’ performances on the training pitch.
But with the Sweden international seemingly finding the pace of the Scottish game difficult to cope with, he quickly fell behind Cameron Carter-Vickers, Liam Scales and Stephen Welsh in the pecking order.
Celtic also brought in Auston Trusty on a £6 million deadline day deal from Sheffield United.
So when FC Twente came forward with an offer to take Lagerbielke on loan – moving ahead of Eredivisie rivals Heerenveen for his signature – Rodgers was in no mood to deny the seldom-seen Scandinavian an opportunity to jump-start his stalling career.
Twente technical director Arnold Bruggink is convinced a spell in the Eredivisie will work wonders for Lagerbielke.
He feels the former Derby County target possesses the height and the two-footedness to help Twente move on from departed captain Robin Propper, who moved to Scotland to join Celtic’s Old Firm neighbours Rangers in August.
Opening up further on the deal which took Lagerbielke to Enschede, Bruggink tells the Oosttribune Podcast that the Stockholm-born 24-year-old ticked the boxes marked ‘affordable’ and ‘attainable’.
Goldilocks’ centre-half, if you like.
“A number of players we really wanted didn’t want to (join Twente) or were too expensive. Then, you choose Gustaf,” Bruggink explains, indicating that Celtic were demanding just over £2 million for a permanent transfer.
“Then it would be a loan option, because Celtic absolutely did not want to sell. We couldn’t have paid for that either. We couldn’t get a player for 2.5 million euros.”
Bruggink’s comments may give the impression that there is still a chance for Lagerbielke at Celtic, should he impress at a Twente side who finished third in the Eredivisie last season to help secure a Europa League spot.
Or maybe Celtic opted not to discuss a permanent move simply because they knew Twente could not afford the sort of fee they were looking for.
Maybe, if Lagerbielke shines like Propper did at the Stadion Galgenwaard, there will be a chance to cash in for a more substantial sum should he attract the interest of other clubs in need of defensive reinforcements.
Lagerbielke is yet to make his official debut for Twente.
He does have a history against top Dutch opposition, however, by far and away his stand-out Celtic moment coming when he scored a late winner against Feyenoord in last season’s Champions League.
“Robin Prppper is no longer there. We are now talking about players who are there,” Twente coach Joseph Oosting tells RTV Oost.
“Sometimes, you need time to adjust. We help (Lagerbielke) with that, but I am happy with the players we have.”
“Physically, he is strong. He is good in the air, on the ground too. He is also good at defending, also his footwork (and) also his passing.
“I am happy with him.”
Gustaf Lagerbielke, barring a career revival not seen since Michael Keaton in Birdman, is almost certain to have worn those green and white stripes for the final time.
Brendan Rodgers could not speak highly enough of Lagerbielke’s professionalism behind the scenes. Or, indeed, his ‘brilliant’ performances on the training pitch.
But with the Sweden international seemingly finding the pace of the Scottish game difficult to cope with, he quickly fell behind Cameron Carter-Vickers, Liam Scales and Stephen Welsh in the pecking order.
Celtic also brought in Auston Trusty on a £6 million deadline day deal from Sheffield United.
So when FC Twente came forward with an offer to take Lagerbielke on loan – moving ahead of Eredivisie rivals Heerenveen for his signature – Rodgers was in no mood to deny the seldom-seen Scandinavian an opportunity to jump-start his stalling career.
Twente technical director Arnold Bruggink is convinced a spell in the Eredivisie will work wonders for Lagerbielke.
He feels the former Derby County target possesses the height and the two-footedness to help Twente move on from departed captain Robin Propper, who moved to Scotland to join Celtic’s Old Firm neighbours Rangers in August.
Opening up further on the deal which took Lagerbielke to Enschede, Bruggink tells the Oosttribune Podcast that the Stockholm-born 24-year-old ticked the boxes marked ‘affordable’ and ‘attainable’.
Goldilocks’ centre-half, if you like.
“A number of players we really wanted didn’t want to (join Twente) or were too expensive. Then, you choose Gustaf,” Bruggink explains, indicating that Celtic were demanding just over £2 million for a permanent transfer.
“Then it would be a loan option, because Celtic absolutely did not want to sell. We couldn’t have paid for that either. We couldn’t get a player for 2.5 million euros.”
Bruggink’s comments may give the impression that there is still a chance for Lagerbielke at Celtic, should he impress at a Twente side who finished third in the Eredivisie last season to help secure a Europa League spot.
Or maybe Celtic opted not to discuss a permanent move simply because they knew Twente could not afford the sort of fee they were looking for.
Maybe, if Lagerbielke shines like Propper did at the Stadion Galgenwaard, there will be a chance to cash in for a more substantial sum should he attract the interest of other clubs in need of defensive reinforcements.
Lagerbielke is yet to make his official debut for Twente.
He does have a history against top Dutch opposition, however, by far and away his stand-out Celtic moment coming when he scored a late winner against Feyenoord in last season’s Champions League.
“Robin Prppper is no longer there. We are now talking about players who are there,” Twente coach Joseph Oosting tells RTV Oost.
“Sometimes, you need time to adjust. We help (Lagerbielke) with that, but I am happy with the players we have.”
“Physically, he is strong. He is good in the air, on the ground too. He is also good at defending, also his footwork (and) also his passing.
“I am happy with him.”