Celtic defender Stephen Welsh added another Scottish Premiership medal to his collection last weekend despite having to overcome injuries this term.
The 24-year-old has had to contend with damaged ligaments in his ankle that ruled him out for a considerable period earlier in the campaign.
Nevertheless, he has returned to play his part in title success, making 14 appearances across all competitions under Brendan Rodgers [Transfermarkt].
Welsh has already overcome a shoulder problem from last weekend’s victory over St Mirren and could be in line for a place on the bench when Celtic take on Rangers this weekend in the Scottish Cup final.
On the same token, there have been murmurs this week that Neil Lennon could look to try and tempt the defender to join him at Rapid Bucharest; however, these claims have been rubbished by club sources.
Now, further interest has come to light regarding Welsh as the summer transfer window nears opening time.
Celtic defender Stephen Welsh is attracting interest
According to The Daily Record, Welsh is being courted by clubs from Major League Soccer and the English Championship.
The outlet claim the 24-year-old is attracting ‘major interest’ from both parts of the world ahead of the summer. Various sides have monitored Welsh over the last two windows despite him signing a new contract at Parkhead last year that runs until 2027.
Whether that proves to be a sticking point in negotiations remains to be seen, and it will likely come down to if Celtic could be tempted to part ways and source a replacement.
Liam Scales and Cameron Carter-Vickers have both been first-choice central defenders under Rodgers this term.
Queens Park Rangers man Jake Clarke-Salter has also been linked with a move to the Scottish Premiership champions, which could prospectively put the wheels in motion for one or two departures.
One quantifiable advantage of having Welsh at the club is his homegrown status. Should there be potential for a Celtic exit, there may need to be a re-jig in squad planning to fill what would become a vacant slot.
Either way, the situation appears to be one to watch over the coming weeks as transfer speculation continues to dominate the headlines.