Celtic, Brentford and one other club have held discussions with the representatives of Arsenal defender Rob Holding, according to Olt Sports.
The Nigerian football news outlet claims that the Gunners will sell the centre-back if a team matches their £8m asking price:
✅🚨 Rob Holding is close to an Arsenal exit
💰 The Englishman will be available for a fee at the region of £8M
🤝 Brentford, Celtic and one unnamed club are in discussion with the players representatives.
✍️ #TFUpdatesWithOlt pic.twitter.com/fPIOynflXE
— Olt Sports (@oltsport_) June 22, 2023
Supporters on Twitter are very sceptical about the Hoops making a move for Holding. When one fans suggested that the club would do well to sign him, others were quick to dispute the remark:
Aye we hear that everytime and it never happens.
Holding is rotten. 8 million, no chance.— Kev (@celtmuppet) June 24, 2023
Doesn’t scream European ambition, however
— 😎 (@Forbesey67) June 24, 2023
Woeful player definitely doesn't improve the CCV and startfelt partnership.
Btw that's a terrifying pic of Rodgers 🤣
— Cormac Mc Closkey (@IcemanClosk) June 25, 2023
We also want to do better in Europe not just in the Scottish league
— chris mclachlan (@mr_cmcl) June 24, 2023
Holding isn’t what we need for champions league
— Jamie burns (@Jamieconorburns) June 24, 2023
Don’t think he will improve us.watching arsenal he has always got a mistake in him
— paddy keenan (@paddykeenan14) June 24, 2023
Holding is very average and £8m is simply because he plays down south. If you are paying £8m you are looking for a midfielder or forward that makes a big difference up the other end of the pitch. It’s a big pass from me.
— CMac (@CMack659) June 24, 2023
Not for me – maybe at £3mill I would take a chance
— mjs670 (@mjs1932) June 24, 2023
Not better than Starfelt.
— Anderson (@91Andersonnn) June 24, 2023
Holding is not the right fit for Celtic
While the Scottish champions have paid a sizeable fee for a centre-back before, when they shelled out £6m to snap up Cameron Carter-Vickers on a permanent basis from Tottenham last summer, it doesn’t mean they should do that again for Holding.
The 27-year-old struggled at the back end of last season when he was asked to fill in for the injured William Saliba, and many have blamed him for the way the Gunners’ Premier League title challenge faltered.
There could be an argument to say that Holding would be a decent addition if he was available on the cheap but that isn’t the case. If manager Brendan Rodgers does bring in a new centre-half in the coming weeks, it is unlikely to be Holding.
