Celtic defender Stephen Welsh has been linked with a move away from the club, according to reports.
Sky Sports reporter Anthony Joseph gave an update on the 24-year-old academy graduate, who has made just one appearance for the Scottish champions this season – against Falkirk in the Premier Sports Cup quarter-final.
On X, the Scottish journalist posted: “UPDATE: KV Mechelen have made a loan offer for Celtic centre-back Stephen Welsh.
The Belgian Pro League side want the 24yo to join in Jan until the end of the season.
It’s understood Welsh is keen to get regular first team football and Celtic are willing to listen to offers.”
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This is not the first time that the Belgian side have been linked with the centre-back, who made his Celtic debut in 2020 against Hamilton Academical.
Indeed, the former Scotland U21 internationalist was made a loan offer by Mechelen in the summer window, an approach that was refused by his boyhood club.
Clubs in England and Italy have been interested in the player in the past, as teams such as Udinese have previously registered interest in the defender.
Welsh has made 67 appearances for Celtic so far, scoring four goals in the process. Prior to his debut, he enjoyed a fruitful loan spell at Greenock Morton, where he played 18 games in the Scottish Championship, managing a goal in his half-season at the club.
In recent times, he has struggled for game-time, as the likes of Cameron Carter-Vickers, Auston Trusty and Liam Scales have moved ahead of him in Brendan Rodgers’ defensive pecking order.
Potential suitors KV Mechelen finished 8th in the Belgian Pro League last season. This season, they sit in 7th position – 15 points off of Genk at the top of the table.
Former Celtic winger Maryan Shved enjoyed a loan spell at the Belgian club back in the 2020/21 season, while Boli Bolingoli joined the side in 2022, following his Glasgow exit.
