[Link] Ivan Mocinic

Celtic are considering a move for a second Croatian international after placing Rijeka midfielder Ivan Mocinic on a list of potential January signings.
The SPFL champions paid £3million to secure central defender Jozo Simunovic from Dinamo Zagreb in August.
And reports in Croatia suggest that £2.5m-rated Mocinic has also been recommended to scouts after the 22-year-old made his senior international debut as a holding midfielder against Russia last month.

Manager Ronny Deila is seeking up to three new signings in the New Year as he seeks to convince the Celtic board he can be trusted with another crack at the Champions League qualifiers.
Mocinic is just one of the names under consideration as the Norwegian searches for players capable of improving the team in Europe.
Having represented Croatia at every age level, Mocinic can play across the midfield but has excelled as a holding midfielder where Celtic are seeking cover for injured duo Scott Brown and Charlie Mulgrew and highly-rated Israeli international Nir Bitton.

Dundee United’s John Souttar has now slipped down the champions’ list of options, but Deila is also seeking a striker and recently watched Aston Villa’s out-of-favour Libor Kozak during a scouting trip to Birmingham. The Parkhead boss also remains an admirer of Danish Under-21 international Emil Berggreen

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3363500/Celtic-eye-Croatian-midfielder-Ivan-Mocinic-Ronny-Deila-looks-bolster-season-s-Champions-League-hopes.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490

 

Might be Balkan players are a good source for us, technically proficient players who might excel given the chance of a higher level. Also fits with Ronny's philosophy of high tempo passing game. I've not seen those players though so no idea, sounds more ambitious for our European plans.

 

Wouldnt mind but I'd prefer experience over another project midfielder. Another thing that I still feel is an issue is that we have Commons, Johansen, Allan, Mcgregor, Rogic, Mackay Steven, Forrest, Christie and Henderson all competing for the 3 attacking midfield spots. How many midfielders can we sign or scout before we let go of 1 or 2? I'm All for competition and injury cover but how many decent midfielders do we want to sign over 1 or 2 class ones?

 

id say at 22 and being in and around the national team for a while, he's less of a project than other players we've signed in recent years.

plus, the article says he excelled at a holding role so he wouldnt be competing with the names you have mentioned above. with mulgrew perpetually injured brown and bitton are our only real options there so we could do with another player in that position

 

Good points. Just think we should consider offloading a couple of those attacking options as we seem to be full of decently talented players but lack true quality (ie. Rogic, Mcgregor) over guys like Commons. Not saying Rogic or Mcgregor are bad players but we need true first team attacking options for Champions league qualifiers.

 

A holding midfielder?

Thank * if we are actively looking to recruit one.

 

well if its any help, johansen looks like he has already moved on in his mind and commons probably has another playing season in him with us at most.

personally, id like to see GMS and McGregor moved on as well

 

Don't worry, he'll be played left wing

 

Don't you think Wanyama would've been under the project criteria too? That worked out well enough...

I know what you mean mate, a few wise heads in the team would do us wonders, but it's no reason to jack in signing potential. If we could get another Vic for 2 or 3 years I'd be * ecstatic

 

No idea how good he is, but I agree with CalgaryBhoy's point.

We seem to be stockpiling decent/good players in the hope that some of them can improve beyond that while at Celtic.

It's just a shame that the days of us going and buying proven players and paying them a little more are gone.

 

He is a prospect, and the team he plays for are strong, but he is not a classic defensive midfielder, which might be a drawback.

Source here: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2064225-will-croatia-play-without-a-true-holder-at-the-world-cup

 

Even with injuries we have more than enough midfiders to get the job done. If we were still in Europe maybe but not for domestic games.

Unless we're going for a guaranteed first team starter to get bedded in for the CL qualifiers I don't see the point in bringing in another midfielder.

 

* you!

 

Well that's exactly what we should be doing. Who's to say this guy won't be a regular starter. We're hardly blessed with great talent.

I like the sound of this. If you're after a quality midfielder, go to the place that produces an abundance of them.

 

Can't see it myself. Another midfielder, unless he's top notch, will either sit on the bench or limmit the development of players like Allan and Rogic.

 

Never heard of him. Hopefully one of the Croatian members has a bit of info.