This article is part of Football FanCast's Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news...

Celtic are tracking Rosenborg left-back Birger Meling, as Neil Lennon steps up his chase for a Kieran Tierney replacement, according to The Scottish Sun.

What's the story?

Lennon is looking at potential names as he searches for left-back cover, having sold Tierney to Arsenal for £25m last week. One name that has come up will be familiar to supporters, with Meling impressing against the Celts in the last few years in European competition.

He did well on four occasions against the Hoops and even notched a goal at Parkhead, so it's little surprise his name has cropped up as Lennon continues the hunt for a new left-back.

The Hoops boss is hopeful of adding cover for new signing Boli Bolingoli-Mbombo before the September 2nd deadline, and The Scottish Sun understands that Meling fits the profile of what the club is looking for.

The Parkhead side will have to fight off competition from Los Angeles FC if they're to land the 24-year-old this summer, per the report.

The wrong left-back

The Norwegian full-back is an interesting prospect, but at 24 he is the same age as Bolingoli-Mbombo. The Belgian arrived for £3m, so has a reasonable expectation of starting more often than not, and signing a player of the same age might jeopardise this.

Meling isn't the only left-back the Bhoys have been linked to since Tierney opted for the Premier League though, with Kilmarnock's Greg Taylor also being touted, per The Daily Record.

In Taylor, you'd have a new arrival that could come in and not derail Bolingoli-Mbombo's progression and adjustment to life in the Scottish Premiership, instead playing a supporting role to the 24 year-old. Aged just 21, Taylor is also more malleable than Meling, meaning Lennon could shape him into the exact specification of left-back he is looking for.

Taylor also has the added bonus of being a proven Premiership player, something that could be pivotal as Celtic look to start the season quickly, rather than dealing with two left-backs coming to grips with the style of play in Scotland.

Meling has wowed Parkhead before, but Celtic would be wise to look a little closer to home in their search for a Tierney replacement.

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