FOLLOWING the capture of Scott Brown from Hibernian, Celtic manager Gordon Strachan’s next acquisition seems certain to be the Cameroon international full-back, Jean-Joel Perrier Doumbe.
Already on loan to the Scottish champions from Rennes, Doumbe is believed to have impressed Strachan sufficiently to have encouraged the manager to offer him a three-year contract. Celtic will also have to pay Rennes £400,000 for the player’s transfer, a proviso made in the loan agreement.
Doumbe, 28, created a good impression at right-back in the 2-1 victory over Aberdeen last Saturday, showing good pace, distribution and positional awareness.
His signing would help Strachan solve what has been a problem position throughout this season. First choice Mark Wilson has spent most of the time injured and his deputy, the veteran Paul Telfer, left the club a few weeks ago to return to his home on the south coast of England.
Gary Caldwell, the central defender, has been a makeshift right-back for much of the second half of the season. Against Aberdeen, Doumbe looked more comfortable in the role. The player himself is believed to be keen to remain at Parkhead, on a contract believed to be worth around £12,000 a week in basic wages.
GLENN GIBBONS, Scotsman
