As Celtic concluded the 2021-22 campaign in May, it seemed the top four recruitment priorities entering the summer transfer window were as follows:

- A big, fast and athletic box-to-box midfielder

- A ball-playing centre-back

- A left-back with top-end speed also suited to an inverted role

- A keeper who is at least an average shot-stopper and above average on the ball

The more those profiles were of a last-eight Europa League or Champions League standard, the better. There is optimism over the Alexandro Bernabei signing but the other signings have rather underwhelmed relative to the criteria above. 

As for a ball-playing centre-back… does Tuesday’s signing of Moritz Jenz on a season-long loan with an option to buy meet that grade? Let us have a look at his last two seasons within the context of the analytical framework I have been sharing so far in this window:

Celtic Way:

First, some important context. Jenz did not play in ball-dominant or possession-centric teams the past two seasons. For example, Lausanne-Sport were sixth of 10 teams in possession during the 2020-21 season at about 49 per cent while FC Lorient were 15th of 20 at 44.8 per cent in 2021-22. Those are an important context for Jenz’s performance data and his percentiles versus his peers for each league season.

Relatively low creative and attacking output are not surprising while his relatively dominant success rates for defensive actions are very encouraging. It should be said, though, that his stepping up to the top tier in France was accompanied by a significant increase in fouling.

In addition, he had played primarily in the centre of a back three or at right centre-back in Switzerland but was asked to play quite a bit on the left at Lorient. One could reasonably question his preparedness – or quality – for playing in the Champions League on the left at Celtic.

Celtic Way:

His ball progression-related metrics are not particularly impressive. Whether beating opposition forwards’ pressing via dribbles, carrying the ball via the progressive runs or passing through defensive lines, his was not a profile which suggests high-level acumen in this regard.

The passing metrics suggest he may be a relatively safe passer at shorter distances but more erratic when required to do more. Combined with the dearth in creativity and ball progression profile, he appears like a centre-back who may be looking to get it to others in order to facilitate build-up. If asked to do more, he may be vulnerable to turning possession over into the transitions which have often hurt Celtic – particularly versus European-quality opponents.  

Outside of his dramatic superiority in aerial defence, Jenz’s profile may be sounding somewhat familiar to another Celtic centre-back… Carl Starfelt.

Celtic Way:

While Starfelt appeared to improve his on-ball play this past season, his profile at Rubin Kazan had pretty clearly suggested he was a very simple and conservative passer (i.e. not a ball-playing centre-back by profile).

With Benjamin Siegrist’s profile also not fitting that of a ball-playing keeper, and now another centre-back who doesn’t appear to upgrade this facet of play in defence either, Celtic may have compounded some of their issues.

These are, however, relatively minor in domestic competition outside of some Glasgow derbies but if Celtic are to finally make a dent at European level then player recruitment should be better aligned with how the manager wants to play.

With the chances of Ange Postecoglou deciding to ‘park the bus’ in the Champions League seemingly somewhere between zero and never, the Hoops needed to upgrade the ability of the backline and keeper to play out and become press-resistant.

Jenz does not appear to possess that skill-set as a strength so, with a little of a month remaining in the transfer window, the hope must be that additional upgrades will be inbound.