John Hartson insists Celtic must make sure Cameron Carter-Vickers is their Champions League centre-back.
And the former Parkead striker believes manager Ange Postecoglou may need even more backline provisions.
Hartson believes Carter-Vickers, on loan from Tottenham, has been a huge contributor in Celtic’s run towards regaining the title.
That will secure direct entry to the group stages of the Champions League next season and Hartson says securing a deal for Carter-Vickers should be top of the manager’s to-do list.
The Welshman said: “I speak to people at Spurs and I know for a fact they want to sell Carter-Vickers. He’s been on loan four or five times and they feel he’s not going back to Spurs, so they want to do a deal with somebody.
“You can talk about the forwards, Jota, Liel Abada, Kyogo, whose numbers have been frightening. Joe Hart has been brilliant. But you’ve got to look at Carter-Vickers, he’s been the dominant one. Carl Starfelt has come onto a game, but he’s shown weaknesses and defensive frailties at times.
“It’s Carter-Vickers who has been that man-mountain alongside him and taken a lot of pressure off him. To do that for your other centre-half, I think he’s been outstanding.
“He would be as important a signing as Jota would be because we know that Celtic are a forward-thinking team, get on the front foot with a high intensity, press, and pressure.
“As soon as they lose it there’s a trigger, four and five players around the ball, they don’t go in ones and twos, they don’t leave players 40 yards behind.
“Reo Hatate pushes the forwards, the defence comes up to the halfway line. They’re a forward-thinking team who almost just want to outscore the opposition.
“That’s what they want to do so you need to have really good defenders to go on to another level where you’re up against better opposition and better quality of player as they can hurt you at the highest level.
“So they need Carter-Vickers in terms of a defender.”
Hartson has seen Starfelt improve alongside the USA international and the pair have built a solid partnership for Postecoglou.
But with Christopher Jullien yet to make a regular return, the ex-hitman believes another central defender is another priority. Stephen Welsh has been used this term but mainly in the earlier parts of the campaign and Hartson feels a signing is required.
He said: “They need another centre-back. They have Jullien but he’s not featured.
“I’m not too surprised by that because he went with Carter-Vickers and Starfelt and I just feel he didn’t want to upset that pairing.
“He’s changed the full-backs with Josip Juranovic, Greg Taylor and Adam Montgomery before he went on loan. But for me Carter-Vickers is arguably as important a player to get on board as Jota.
“You want to reward them all. There’s Kyogo and Abada too. Give them a new deal too people will say! But those two, particularly Carter-Vickers, he’s been brilliant.”
Hartson believes there will be few more deserving than Callum McGregor to lead Celtic on to the title podium.
The Parkhead skipper has been magnificent since taking the armband last summer from departed captain Scott Brown. And he could now be the individual to lead the team up for the trophy tomorrow night if Celtic get the desired outcome at Tannadice.
Hartson reckons that would be a fitting reward for the skipper and said: “Callum’s been exquisite, the way he’s led the team.
“They lose a captain who has done nine in a row and he comes in with a different personality and everything, but boy has he led.
“These experienced guys have helped in the group and he’s led from the front with his performances.”
