A trio of English Premier League clubs are chasing American defender Cameron Carter-Vickers, which has led to Scottish Premiership Celtic opening talks with him over a long-term contract at the club.
Celtic has begun talks with Carter-Vickers over a new contract at the club, a source close to the player confirmed to SBI. Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers confirmed the early negotiations in a pre-match interview on Saturday ahead of Celtic’s 5-0 FA Cup win over Buckie Thistle on Sunday.
West Ham United, Brentford, and Nottingham Forest have all targeted Carter-Vickers as a potential acquisition this year, SBI previously reported earlier this month.
“There’s no doubt that Cam is one of the pillars of the team and, of course, we’d want to do that [extend his deal],” Rodgers said, transcribed by The Daily Record. “That will happen in time, I’m sure. There have been talks on that between the club and his representatives so let’s see where it goes.
“He’s been around a few clubs down south already but he recognises the magnitude of this club,” Rodgers added. “He’s become a winner at Celtic and he’s settled.”
Carter-Vickers has not featured since Boxing Day against Dundee FC due to a hamstring injury. Celtic has won all three of its matches since Carter-Vickers’ injury and next hosts Ross County on Saturday in SPFL action.
The 26-year-old originally joined Celtic on a season-long loan from Tottenham in August 2021, proceeding to win the Scottish Premiership and Scottish Cup that season. The American defender’s move became permanent in June 2022 and he later led Celtic to a domestic treble last season.
He has made 101 combined appearances for Celtic over two-and-a-half seasons, scoring five goals and adding two assists. Carter-Vickers was named to the SPFL Best XL in both 2022 and 2023, which has led to his USMNT return.
Carter-Vickers has earned eight of his 16 total caps over the last two years, last featuring in CONCACAF Nations League play last November.
There’s no doubt the dude is a hoss and can physically dominate his space, and he’s an extremely calm, methodical player who reads the game extremely well and rarely puts a wrong foot forwards. He’s a commanding presence on his backline when he’s in there, and I notice guys just shrinking from him all the time, something I’ve also noticed from Walker Zimmerman. Those dudes are extremely physical and they will impose themselves on you.
That said, CCV’s slow afoot and short for a CB – he’s listed at 6’1″ but he looks a hair under six feet to my eyes – and in the past when up against sufficiently athletic players when he was with Tottenham when he got opportunities he got turned and burned. A lot. At one point the book on him was, he just didn’t have the athleticism or height for the Prem. Has he progressed to the point where he can compete in that league despite his so-so athleticism and height?
Tim Ream is a slighter guy than CCV and certainly no faster, so it obviously can be done, but Ream’s also good enough with the ball at his feet he was once considered more 6 than CB and Ream’s also a much better passer. Obviously you want the guy to challenge himself and do well…but I do worry he might be right at his ceiling already. In terms of skill and athleticism he is certainly not a Chris Richards.
I guess we’ll see. I’m curious to see if he can do it and I’m certainly willing to wait and see.