http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport...e-that-celtic-should-sell-hooper-now.19780021 CELTIC have a decision to make about Gary Hooper. They can sell him now or they can sell him later. The idea that the striker, 25 next month, will spend his career at Celtic is so preposterous that it belongs in football's Brigadoon. Increasingly, the evidence suggests the fond farewell should be made soon for Celtic's financial interests. Hooper added another splendid moment to an increasingly impressive cv by scoring a marvellous goal at Dens Park on Wednesday. His first touch was sublime, his chip over Rab Douglas precise. His team mates strode into the media room afterwards to praise his contribution to what is already an extraordinary season for Celtic. Scott Brown, the Celtic captain, described the Englishman's goal as "ridiculous" and Charlie Mulgrew pointed out that Hooper's versatility was an overlooked facet of his game. The former S****horpe United man played just off the front in Dundee, showcasing both his movement and his ability to link play. "Hoops can play that role. We've seen him do it a few times. He'll always get goals no matter where he is on the pitch," said Mulgrew, who was withdrawn at half time because of a rib injury but who should be available to play against Hibernian tomorrow. "We've seen him do that [play in the hole] in training. He's as good at that as he is in the box. He comes off and sees the strikers' movement [ahead of him]. This is the best he's played for Celtic. He's playing really well – a really good player who's coming into his prime." This accurate assessment, of course, makes Hooper a target for other clubs. "We want to keep the squad together," added Mulgrew. "I'm sure the manager does as well. Hopefully there's no bids for him. Every player wants to play in the Champions League – especially in the last 16. As I've said we want to keep the squad together and the manager won't want to lose any players." This is a predictable, understandable sentiment but it may not survive a collision with reality. There is a hugely persuasive case that Celtic should sell Hooper now with the striker having 18 months to run on his contract. His precise value has yet to be tested in the market, but he is at the peak of his worth. First, he is playing with enough flair and goals to attract suitors and Nikica Jelavic, the former Rangers striker now at Everton, has shown that a top SPL striker can prosper in England. Second, potential buyers are dealing in the market of desperation. The four English clubs most regularly linked with Hooper – Queens Park Rangers, Sunderland, Southampton and Liverpool – simply need a striker. For the first three clubs, the acquisition of Hooper could mean the difference between relegation and staying up, two scenarios separated by tens of millions of pounds. The last is the most unlikely eventuality. Liverpool have only one recognised striker in Luis Suarez but Daniel Sturridge is almost certainly on his way to Anfield from Chelsea. It is therefore highly likely that there will be a bid for Hooper in the transfer window as he has been noticed to such an extent that Roy Hodgson is likely to call him into the next England squad. Third, the price for Hooper is likely to be favourable for Celtic who paid £2.4m for him in 2010. Crucially, this is the moment when Celtic have some control over the fee. Not only is the January window a seller's market with the safe selling to the desperate, but Hooper has not yet grabbed Celtic's offer of an extended contract on more favourable terms. Therefore Celtic would be looking to sell him in the summer. The Celtic boardroom will not be looking to follow the "Arsenal Armageddon" whereby a top player is allowed to run his contract down and leaves the club on his terms and at a reduced price. If Hooper is kept beyond this window, there is the likelihood he and his advisers could come to the conclusion in the summer that he would sit out his final year and talk to other clubs next January. With no need under this circumstance for a transfer fee, Hooper would attract huge wages. However, the strongest reason for selling Hooper now is that it adheres to the Celtic business plan. The club has been open in declaring that the strategy is to find or develop players, then sell them on at a profit. A crucial aspect of this declared intention is pick the right moment. For example, have Emilio Izaguirre and Biram Kayal improved their sell-on value over the past 18 months? Both have been badly afflicted by injuries and may rise to prominence again, but there is a message for Celtic that potential transfer fees can fall as well as rise. Celtic will face criticism if they sell their best striker ahead of a Champions League last-16 tie against Juventus. There is the possibility that Hooper could be the difference between winning or losing that tie. The certainty, however, is that there has never been a better time to cash in on an astute investment. interesting article which should be debated i feel my gut instinct is that we keep him for the rest of the season and punt him in the summer. On the face value we could receive less in the summer than we would if we sold him now, however, should he play well in the last 16 and get a couple of england caps this year i feel his value will be maintained and we would be no worse off financially by selling him in the summer. realistically how much do we think we would get for him? I feel somewhere in the 8-10 million would be reasonable. thoughts?
If he doesn't want to extend his contract, punt him in the summer ... No point selling now, he's the type we need against Juve!
They always assume they want too leave. Here's a thought maybe he likes playing in the champions league. Which he won't get at any of those clubs.
But he will get at least twice the wage celtic can offer him, which he and others (agents) may care more about
Despite no firm offers, despite us being one of the best 16 teams in Europe, despite him being the focal point of our attack.... We have a decision to make. That is amongst the ****test articles I have ever read. Good player should attract attention......
i hear what you are saying but our business model is all about selling on for a profit., the article looks at whether we sell now or in the summer. he tries to point out that we would be better selling now. i disagree but think that overall the article raises some good points namely the kayal / izzy angle and jan being a sellers market.
And we will sell him on for a profit. Improving players contracts during that time should be a no brainier for the player. We are going to sell anyway, so why not get better rewarded whilst he is here? The article is about selling a player we have had no offer for and the window is not even open. I see why papers write this guff but it is meaningless. Our business model is a good and sustainable one but part of selling on for a profit is not just to make a profit, but to maximise it. There is less risk in keeping him till the summer and banking on him playing well for the rest of the campaign that there is in selling him without having a replacement in place.
Queens Park Rangers, Sunderland, Southampton and Liverpool Gary Hooper would seriously lack ambition if he opted for any of these clubs at the moment - apart from Liverpool and possibly Sunderland being in the lower reaches of but managing to stay in the EPL, he could end up in a relegated club at the end of this season were he to go to either of the other two. He's got Champions League football on the cards and a huge stage to showcase his talents to big clubs - why on earth would he want to leave Celtic in January ... and particularly, for any of the clubs mentioned?
Money. If he is motivated by it he would moved to one of the mentioned teams. His agent will be chirping in his rear about it constantly.
He's English too so the lure of being at home could be a factor. England seems to be high on his priority list. Forster has shown that playing in Scotland is no impediment to that.... But you never know. We can't and won't offer anything like what QPR an their ilk could.
If either money or being back home were the reasons he went to one of the clubs mentioned at this stage, then as I've said, he would seriously lack ambition and I'd be very disappointed in him (he'd care about that lol!). He's a very clever footballer and seems a bright enough guy so even if his agent tries to persuade him to move to one of these clubs I would have thought that the likes of Neil Francis Lennon would be giving him an alternative viewpoint which hopefully, will make a lot more sense to him.
Yes we can and won't offer what QPR can offer, a fight against relegation, playing in front of home crowds around 20,000. Playing against the most over paid professionals in the world in a league more used to having laundered money invested either from Russia or the Middle East with con men at every level. Should Hooper not set his eyes on some place that just may not be as corrupt as the EPL.
