http://www.thefootballlife.co.uk/post/38644174178/celtic-transfer-targets-something-to-occupy-the Celtic Transfer Targets - Something to occupy the Winter break with As the Winter Break approaches rapidly with the turn of the year, sub-editors need something with which to fill back pages with. Celtic’s transfer dealings are likely to be the most covered and are particularly vital this time round with preparations for the last 16 of the Champions League at the front of many minds. The first round up of the Summer business raises one particularly thorny issue - Miku. The Venezuelan is undeniably talented, as his scoring record in La Liga showed. However his performances for Celtic have, being kind, flattered to deceive. It is unlikely that he will remain at the club after his loan expires at the end of the season. the injuries for Lassad have limited his appearances however he has looked good when he has been able to play. To further the forward headache, Anthony Stokes has been out injured and gotten himself into the PR bad books of the board. While he still has a future at the club, the management view of him appears to have soured, as has the fan view of him with his deficiencies (offering nothing except goals) seeming to make him a likely departure if not in January then at the end of the season. The transfer business will also be defined by what others pilfer. The Champions League campaign has put Celtic’s good, young team on show with the spotlight particularly on Fraser Forster, Victor Wanyama and Gary Hooper. While Forster’s headlines have been along the lines of getting an England call-up rather than being bought Wanyama and Hooper appear likely to be the subject of bids from clubs in England and elsewhere. Wanyama in particular has been linked to Man United and Arsenal and, should he go, is likely to be in excess of £15million providing a warchest for Neil Lennon to reinvest. Target 1 Karim Ansarifard Club: Persepolis (Iran) Tabloid Headline: Celtic Sign The Aya-Goal-lah Ansarifard has been strongly linked for a few months to Celtic with bids supposedly being put in. The powerful Iranian striker was the top scorer in the league last season and has already scooped 34 caps for Iran. This season, however, has been less fruitful with a scoring record of only 1 in 3 and the likelihood of a move in the near future seems to have diminished. While Celtic may still look for a bargain buy, it is somewhat unlikely that they will be prepared to break the bank for Ansarifard, which is probably what Perspolis would look to do. Target 2 Nico Castillo Club: U Catolica (Chile) Tabloid Headline: The Celtic Underground and Nico The 19 year old Chilean youth international has a lot going for him. Physically strong, pacy and very good over a dead ball. He has already been linked with a move to Serie A however teams are playing a waiting game with him as his club have stated publicly they expect £10m for him. His real value is likely to be much much lower (at the high end would be £2m). At Under 20 level, he has scored 10 in 13 (being viewed by Celtic at the 2012 Milk Cup) and is on the fringes of the full international side. His attributes almost exactly match what Celtic lack and, were Gary Hooper to leave, Castillo would have to be target number one. Target 3 Gary Mackay-Steven Club: Dundee United Mackay-Steven is another player who fills a need for Celtic. While Samaras and Commons each provide different left sided options, neither is a tricky speedster like Mackay-Steven. With him, it would provide a real threat from pace on both flanks and be an improvement on the occasional forced reliance on the inconsistent and often underwhelming Paddy McCourt. Target 4 Muamer Svraka Club: Zeljeznicar The Bosnian Defensive Midfielder has been able to fight his way into the international side in spite of still playing in Bosnia domestically and, since his debut in May, has been able to retain his place in the international thinking and is likely to be on his way. Beram Kayal’s old club Maccabi Haifa have been linked, but he is likely to take his next step up a level from Israeli football. At just 24, he still has growth left in him and, were Wanyama to go, would go some way to replacing him. Target 5 Josip Radosevic Club: Hajduk Split The 18 year old defensive midfielder became the youngest Croatian cap ever, skipping the Under 21s altogether. Having played every minute of Hajduk’s Europa League campaign, he has high level experience and is at the stage in his career where it is logical that he gets out of Croatia to solidify his place in the National side and exhibit his talents on a higher level. Target 6 Georgi Milanov Club: Litex Lovech Milanov is a free scoring attacking midfielder with a burgeoning reputation. Perhaps on the high side of Celtic’s budget, his next move is perhaps to a larger club than Celtic, but again, he would fill a need for Celtic - a player to replace Scott Brown should his hip issues become more debilitating. Crucially, much of these transfer dealings are dependent on the outs. While Celtic have the money already to dip in for a bargain, it is likely to be reinvestment of sales that will represent that lions share of any spending. The current contractual impasse between the club and Messrs Hooper and Wanyama have not gone unnoticed and it is hard to imagine that the club’s resolve will not be tested at some point. Celtic are also in the enviable position that the money earned in this season’s Champions League run is likely to add £20m+ onto the accounts for the 2012-13 financial year, wiping their debts. They are under no compulsion to sell and, should they not sell, it may be that they do not enter that January window at all. Make Celtic an offer they can’t refuse, however, and there is likely to be rapid reinvestment in multiple prospects.
I see according to the Derry finest the Rebel/Sevo bhoy, today the winter transfer Window approaches. With mods like him we will never be short of a fool. I suppose it will run on to mid February and I was hoping it would be over in Ten days.
I thought Mackay-Steven was being tracked by Swansea and a couple of other EPL sides. I'd quite like us to get him - I know we've got loads of midfielders but, other than Forrest and McCourt, our wide players seem to be converted strikers (Sammy, Lassad). He won't have done his transfer value any damage after the weekend. He got a standing ovation from the opposition fans - that doesn't happen too often in Scotland.
Celtic need wide midfield cover on the RHS, imo, as there is plenty of coverage LHS (Ledley, Samaras, Commons, Mulgrew, Lassad and even Izzy). The right really only has Forrest, Commons (?) and Brown can play there if needed.
Apparently, this guy's name is in the frame now http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muamer_Svraka Also, Mjallby confirmed today that, if Hooper goes, we'll be trying to get that Austin boy from Burnley. I don't like the sound of that, TBH.
As always, there's a youtube video. He looks quite strong on the baw [video=youtube;WiEB7nYsm9g]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WiEB7nYsm9g[/video]
What is your problem Venom, have you a special relationship with the rebel? I would have thought someone posting on the 20/01/2013 about the winter transfer window about to open was worth commenting about. Your use of language shows a serious poor vocabulary .
Crosser wasn't closed down. Centre Half sleeping. Didn't go right in the very top corner. Wearing hun-like orange strip. Gay white boots. Celebrating like a fanny. Nice black socks though. 2/10. Would not sign.
Member Bangura's you toob highlights? Filled with misses and loads of brilliant wing play from a nippy little ****er. Whether we signed the wrang Bangura is wan thing but certainly the wrang player from his own yootoob clip.
Pud, I took your advice and went away for a day. Very enjoyable you Should try it , more enjoyable than allowing and entering in with childish off topic posts destroying good meaningful threads. Of course I know that some people without a brain or a thought of Their own copy posts, but is it much to ask that something relating To a window opportunity of 31 days would be copied for the start of that window or at least the first half. I think a fair minded man like you Pud, would think like me.
