Michael Nicholson and Mark Lawwell Name checked by Celtic Boss

Ange Postecoglou has given fans a bit of an insight into the work which went on behind the scenes to complete the transfer of Hyeongyu Oh to Celtic.

The 21-year-old forward made the switch to Glasgow for a reported fee of £2.5 million and has joined the Hoops on a 5-year deal.

Having already been capped at international level for South Korea, he will hope that this move to European football will help him become a more regular feature in the national side and improve him as a player.

Oh is able to play as either a centre forward or winger which is right up Postecoglou’s street as he looks for that versatility in the majority of players which he signs and is ‘all action’.

Giorgos Giakoumakis looks likely to depart this club within the next six days before the window closes and many Celtic fans will be delighted that the club have again moved to get a replace in before the player departs.

Since taking over at the club just over 18 months ago, the Australian boss has cast his net far and wide and taken the club into markets which have remained untapped for years to recruit some top prospects which can add something to the side.

He initially first mentioned the South Korean market in December 2021, meaning that the club have had to wait patiently on a good deal coming along.

The manager has a proven track record of improving players which he will hope to do with Oh but at this time is delighted to have him but also wanted to put on record how big a part Head of Recruitment Mark Lawwell and Chief Executive Michael Nicholson had in the deal.

“Yeah, really pleased. You know someone that Mark Lawwell and myself sort of identified really early on in the piece,” said Ange Postecoglou speaking exclusively to Celtic TV. 

“And yeah, we thought he would be the first one through the door. But fair to say it’s taken a while to, you know, to get negotiations done and to get him here and really credit to the player himself and Michael Nicholson for their perseverance, because there were times where I thought it wasn’t going to happen and I kind of lost a bit of heart.

“But they both persevered to get it done.”