Chelsea defender to join Celtic?

Celtic has put 26 year old, Dutch defender, Khalid Boulahrouz at the top of their summer shopping list. According to a report in News of the World, Gordon Strachan wants the £5 million-rated Chelsea stopper to boost his defense for next season.

Boulahrouz has been outstanding for Holland at Euro 2008, and his form in Austria and Switzerland has alerted a number of top clubs. However, Strachan hopes the lure of Champions League football could see him switch to Glasgow.

Chelsea paid £8.5m to get him from Hamburg two years ago. But he failed to break up the central defensive partnership of John Terry and Ricardo Carvalho and with the arrival of Branislav Acimovic Ivanovic and Alex as cover, the player entertained options to play elsewhere last season leading him to join Sevilla on loan.

He has one season left on his Chelsea deal, but stands little chance of playing under incoming coach Luiz Felipe Scolari.

Moves to persuade Boulahrouz were delayed last week by the tragic death of the player’s premature baby daughter Anissa.

[Source: News of the World]