Former Celtic player Vidar Riseth has urged the club to sign Moi Elyounoussi on a permanent deal this summer after two seasons with the Hoops on loan.
Moi has blown hot and cold during his time at the club but he has still provided an impressive return in a side that’s struggled for any sort of consistency.
The winger will head back to Southampton in a matter of weeks after his loan spell comes to an end. It will then be up to a new Celtic manager whether to try and bring the Norweigan back up the road.
You see a lot of new managers taking a clean break from any loan signings as they try to shape the team into their own vision. Nobody knows if Moi fancies a Celtic stay and the uncertainty surrounding the manager’s position makes the decision impossible to make.
Riseth believes it should happen still, speaking to SunSport.
“It’s important to keep him. Of course he’s a good player but it’s also important that he is a good man.
“He is not someone that you would describe as a big head. Mohamed is a player who will try to take care of other players, the coaches and everyone around him. That’s important to him and that’s the type of player that every club wants and needs.
“He trains very hard day to day, when he has to sit on the bench, he does not complain.
“He doesn’t shout about it. He would quietly speak with the coach about the situation and get on with his work and try to do the things that will get him back.
“That’s important for the group to have someone like that in there. I know him quite well and he’s a really nice guy. But of course being a nice person is not enough.
“The most crucial part is he is a good player and he is also that. Everyone can see it.
“Keeping Mohamed is important because there are so many rumours about players going and there could be many of them.
“There are going to be a lot of changes and it’s important for the club to have some faces around who know the club and the environment
“When you join any club it takes some time to settle. That’s the case for most players.
“But once you settle down you start to understand what is required. Mohamed knows what type of football is played in Scotland, he knows what are the demands of Celtic, he knows what needs to be done.
“If you’re going to change him out and then bring someone else in, that new player will need that time to settle and Mohamed has already had it. He doesn’t need that time. He understands already.
“First of all he is 100 per cent good enough for the club and the squad but secondly, he gives that consistency of having been there before when many new players are coming.
“That’s why I’m sure it’s important to keep him.
“He has scored almost 20 goals this season in a team which hasn’t done so well and he’s not started all of the games. If he had been playing regularly that number would be increased.
“You can see the potential he has within him to do that. If he was going to be in the attacking side of the side every single week he could get up to 30 goals a season and that’s excellent. I think they will keep him and I hope they do.
“Celtic has to build a team again. There are some going to be sold and some going to sign and come into the building as new. They have to do something and I feel that keeping Mohamed is one of the most important.”
Would you like to see Celtic keep Moi? TransferMarkt have the player’s valuation at nearly £11m. Celtic wouldn’t go near him for that price but a cut deal of £5m could suit and according to FI, it’s what the English club is looking for.
I think we need as clean a break as possible and if the new man wants him then fine, but let’s buy him outright. No more loan deals, we’ve had far too many over the last few years and most are pointless. We develop the players, and sure we get our use of them, but they’ve always got one eye on what comes next for them and not the team. I’d rather we brought our own talent through or buy locally and improve players that want to be a CP. Too many voices in the dressing room telling impressionable young players about life in other wealthier leagues will turn heads as much as any agent’s patter will. Forget putting any serious effort into competing in Europe for a few years and focus on getting the club on a strong footing. A good coach can polish turds into title winners…let’s give the new manager a tub of Brasso and let them get on with it.
…and for the love of God keep Lawwell away from the place!
Too many off days for me, stop the loans and agree get Lawwell out of the place.