The ongoing recruitment drive at Celtic will likely feature many names in several different positions as Ange Postecoglou looks to put his own stamp on proceedings.
But it's abundantly clear that central defence is viewed as the main priority ahead of the looming Champions League qualifying showdown with Midtjylland in just 11 days' time.
There have been a host of rearguard options linked who could add a steel to the heart of the defence with Kris Ajer a wanted man and Chris Jullien still working his way back to fitness after a horror knee injury.
A trio of names appear to have separated themselves with Ben Davies, Carl Starfelt and Cameron Carter-Vickers all on the Parkhead radar.
But if only one can be had - which player best fits the current side?
Record Sport runs the rule over the three men strongly linked with Celtic.
Passing completion rate
It's not long since defenders were asked to play it safe and hoof the ball to safety.
Certain teams and cultures have long preached a passing game but keeping the ball on the deck is now the preferred way of playing for most.
Postecoglou is a believer is playing out from the back and he demands his defenders to keep the ball on the deck and work their way out rather than going direct.
Starfelt is the clear leader here (96 per cent) in passing completion over both Carter-Vickers (88 per cent) and Davies (86 per cent). He looks the most natural off the three at distributing the ball but Davies, to his credit, appears willing to try and thread passes into midfield and that was a hallmark during his Preston days.
The Russian Premier League is competitive but both Carter-Vickers and Davies have spent the majority of their recent careers in the English Championship - where the ball often being pushed up the park in a more direct manner. That may well be a mitigating factor in their lower completion percentage.
Aerial duels won
Postecoglou might want his defenders to play the ball but he also like his backline to be able to do the basics.
No metric is perfect but aerial challenges won is a pretty good barometer of a defender's capability to compete with strikers.
Over 60 per cent success rate is deemed good but the trio linked with Celtic are above the norm when it comes to headers won.
Cameron-Vickers (64 per cent), Starfelt and Davies (both 67 per cent) have a proven track record of going up in the air and competing with forwards both in open play and set pieces.
Not to downplay the Swede - who we rated highly during our scouting report - but the success of Carter-Vickers and Davies is extra impressive due to the direct nature and the height of many of the opponents they have come up against.
Jullien is among the best in Europe at 70 per cent win rate and if he can find a partner who comes close to him then it could be a major benefit this season.
Celtic suitability
Going back to our earlier point about the role of the defender changing - finding one comfortable in a defined role is now important than ever.
There are key differences between all three and their preferred position. Carter-Vickers is right-footed and plays predominantly on the right side of central defensive two and as part of a back four.
Starfelt is more in the Ajer mould in that he is right-footed and starts for Kazan on the left of his central defensive pairing with Filip Uremovic.
But Davies might be the best match in that he is naturally left-footed player who plays on the left side of a back four. Jullien plays on the right as does Stephen Welsh. Rising star Leo Hjelde is left-footed and looks a player of real potential but a regular starting berth might be unrealistic at the present time for the 17-year-old.
Who is the best fit?
There's a compelling case that Starfelt is the best defender of the three but both Davies and Carter-Vickers certainly have their merits.
The Tottenham loanee is committed and has international experience but Davies' performances that put him on the radar of both Celtic and Liverpool certainly shouldn't be overlooked.
Celtic fans want their team to issue a signal of intent but securing the Anfield man on a season-long loan and putting resources to another position could be inspire business.
But there doesn't appear a wrong choice out of the names in the frame to provide some defensive steel and Davies may edge it due to being naturally left footed.
