Over the past 24 hours, there has been a clamour over a potential move to bring James McLean to Celtic.
The Celtic daft Irishman who currently plays for West Brom would walk to Celtic Park to sign for the club but how real a possibility is this?
According to Football Whispers, they give it a 3/5 of happening.
We rate it much lower than this!
Not because we’re doubting James’ ability to play for Celtic in Scotland because he certainly could do some damage up here.
But if you look at the amount of attacking midfielders on our books and it just becomes ridiculous if you add another one on top of this.
James Forrest, Scott Sinclair, Charly Musonda, Tom Rogic, Callum McGregor, Olivier Ntcham, Stuart Armstrong and you have Ryan Christie along with Lewis Morgan coming back in the summer. Oh, and fans would like to see Roberts signed permanently.
The 28-year-old is is about to enter the last year of his contract which is probably why this rumour has popped up.
While James would certainly cause a stir up here, it just doesn’t look likely.
He’ll likely be at Celtic Park next month as part of the Ireland squad to play Celtic in Scott Brown’s testimonial.
Although we have loads midfielders, I would 100% sign James McLean, he’s just one of those people who was born to play for celtic, he bleeds it and brings something that few else could even with more ability, always liked him strong mentally, he’s a winner, always pops up with big goals too especially for ROI, this guy would push his teammates on especially in the big games champs league games an the likes and would bring belief and demand victoryvery confident with a bit dig also.
I would allow Armstrong and Rogic to go. Paddy Roberts on loan is a no, no, for me same as it was last year, I want Celtic players not loanees, especially ones we have to pay a fee for like Musonda and Paddy. Paddy was not available for our most important games of the season last year, the CL qualifiers and it is going to be the same again in the Summer, let him go and let’s stop getting loanees unless it is only for short term cover. Get James McLean in, no question he is good enough, so he should be where his heart lies, at Celtic Park.
Also broony ain’t getting any younger and you need players with that extra dig and intensity in their play and big passion for the club.
Please no! Wrong on so many levels, not least the fact that he’s no’ very good.
Priority should be given to retaining Rogic, Christie, Bain, Ajer Aduoard and Ralston. If they have to be given improved contracts go for it make the money available. These guys are the future and they are already at the club. Surely this is a no brainer. Offer Rogic 25-30 grand a week and Ajer 20 grand a week. Do it before the end of the season, if they say no, then we know where we stand and they are gone. If we dither, then we lose. And people like me will only have more of an axe to grind with the board, with good reason for them being to miserable to think about the future of the club. Rogic is the most talented player at the club and should be rewarded as such. Some of the money will be available by letting Lustig, Boyata, Simunovic, Armstrong, Sinclair go, thee guys are finished at Celtic. Just because Sinclair says he is 100% committed doesn’t mean it is true.He will never be the player of last season, let him start again somewhere else. Lustig is on 24 grand a week for goodness sake and struggles in the SPL. Roberts is gone because we won’t pay for him and to be honest, much as I like the guy, Celtic cannot pay 15 million for one player (we all know this but it does not mean that we sign no one or try to make every signing under a million). If he is available for 8 million then sign him, but I reckon that Paddy sees himself in the EPL now and might not fancy a 4th year in the SPL. Dembele is an interesting one. He may need another year to boost his value. He has damaged this during this season and we will not get much more than 12 million for him now. He seems like an intelligent guy and may understand this and want to stay and build himself up to previous levels. A goo start to next season with some good performances in Europe, if we qualify, might see us get about 20m for him in January but we won’y get that now and it would be annoying to see him sign for Brighton or Newcastle for 12-13 million only to go to a bigger club for 40-50 in 2 years time. (like big Virgil). I presume that Brendan knows all of this only too well but we must avoid an Armstrong situation with any of our players. Offer them fantastic terms for playing in Scotland, the chance to continue playing for Celtic during one of the most successful periods in our glorious history and if they say no, then a fond farewell to them. But what these guys need to understand is that none of them are world beaters, none of them are Kenny Dalglish, most are good to decent players but when they leave Celtic they are not going to the top six in England straight away, playing in Scotland means they are no rated in England as top level. They will be joining a mid-bottom level team and the relegation dog-fight will be a different ball game to playing for Celtic. They have to get the money right because they will be giving up so much they better get paid. Therefore, with departures there will be room for McLean who would be a good signing.
McLean should be signed in the summer,he is a CELTIC player.
He’s too unstable, look at how many daft fouls he gives away.hed never finish a game up here,he’s inconsistent at best. Pass
Never thought I’d find myself agreeing with Derek Johnstone!