Surely Neil Lennon will axe Celtic academy product, after landing £4m star

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Celtic have finally brought a right-back to Parkhead this summer with the fans crying out for another right-sided defender despite recruiting Hatem Abd Elhamed to Glasgow – and the signing of Mortiz Bauer has finally solved that issue.

Bauer, 27, has joined the club on a loan-to-buy deal for the rest of the campaign. He could make that switch permanent at the end of the campaign, though it remains to be seen how much that clause is worth.

The six-time Switzerland international joined Stoke in January 2018 for a fee of £4million (Telegraph), but has managed just 26 appearances for the club since his transfer from Russian outfit Rubin Kazan.

Elhamed and Bauer are now set to battle for the right-back slot, with Kris Ajer playing on the right side of defence of late. But the move to sign Bauer has only pushed Anthony Ralston further down the pecking order.

Ralston, 20, has come through the Celtic academy and broke into the first team under Brendan Rodgers. However, last season he managed just five appearances for the Hoops – even though he scored against Motherwell in a league clash.

This time around, he has played three matches as Celtic lacked a right-back before the signing of Elhamed. But now he is third-choice, and his potential is in danger of diminshing if he remains at Parkhead before Monday’s deadline.

Ralston has three years left on his Celtic contract and certainly has a chance of breaking into the side on a regular basis. But he needs to leave on loan before September 2, to a league rival or abroad, to show Lennon he has what it takes.