Player Suggestions

It's going to be hard to entice players who will step straight over our players unless we're spending big and don't know how you keep them happy.

Tbh for domestic use I'd take Porteous and Van Veen, both very useful players and for me upgrade on backup like welsh and we defo need a 3rd striker and he has a bit about him both technically and physically.

 

We are a bit thin on the ground for centre backs.
I like that Declan Gallagher of St. Mirren, he is a good player.
I think he is a Tim too.

 

He is too slow to play a high line with us. He couldn’t cut it at Aberdeen and ended up back at St Mirren.

He is ok if you defend deep but would be worse than Duffy if we signed him.

 

Right. We don't want another Duffy on our hands.
I haven't seen too much of him to be truthful.
What do you think of Ryan Porteous.?

 

There’s no other centre backs in the league i’d have at Celtic, Porteous will be on par with Welsh

 

If I would have to take Porteous or Gallagher it would be Porteous but I am not convinced he is of the required standard. He also seems to have a daft decision in him, however seems to have improved this year.

The thing I would give Porteous over Welsh is physicality, he’s pretty decent in the air and is obviously taller than Welsh.

The question mark for me would be is the performance he put in for Scotland in Poland against Ukraine a one off or a level he could consistently achieve? If it’s the later then given his contract is up I wouldn’t be against him as a back up option, he’s still young enough to improve, and would count as a home grown player for Europe.

However I would like us to ditch Jenz unless he massively improved and invest in someone that could challenge Starfelt to partner CCV.

 

Like to see us go for Kelleher from Liverpool in the summer if were gaurenteed CL groups again. He must be itching for regular game time after seeing Bazunu make his move and claim the no.1 Jersey for Ireland.

Bazunu moved for around 12m think Kelleher must be worth around 8-10m or even a 2 year loan similar to Fraser Forster would be good for him and us it would give the likes of Tobi and Clarke more time to develop and see if there up to scratch.

 

If our CL exploits have showed anything it is that Angeball does work...it creates chances, clear chances...even against some of the best team(s) in Europe.

What we lack however is just that level of player who can finish them consistently.

A lot of time, money and effort seriously needs to go into improving and widening our scouting network in hopes that we can unearth gems and get that talent, even if it means they barely last a season in Scotland because of their talents.

I love Kyogo and Giakoumakis, but if we had somehow found a player like Nkunku ourselves, we'd be winning the games against Leipzig back to back and the away game to Shaktar.

I know football isn't anywhere this simple but he supposedly went to Leipzig for not much more than what we allegedly paid for Eddie...both players from PSG.

I don't know how but we need to improve in this aspect further. We are making good ground but CL shows there is still a long way to go.

 

A few players worth a look who I think would fit our team well and bring good physicality as well as having the necessary technical skills. They would all be in our price range.

William Bianda, 22 year old Left sided ball playing CB from Roma. Bianda was signed as an 18 year old from the Lens academy for big money but it hasn’t worked out. He had a good loan to Ligue 2 club Nancy last year and despite Nancy being poor he stood out due to a combination of his good progressive passing and his defending which is aided by sound physical qualities. He isn’t the tallest around 6’1 but is strong and quick. The fact he hasn’t made it at Roma shouldn’t be seen as a negative because Mourinho doesn’t exactly have a track record of bringing through youth players. His deal is up this summer too so could be signed for very little in January.

Mohamed Kaba, 20 year old box to box CM. This boy is a tank of a CM and has serious potential. He plays for Valenciennes in Ligue 2 having come through their academy. He’s about 6’1 and physically impressive, however he also has excellent feet for getting out of a press and a great ability to carry the ball. I think he would be great in the role we ask Hatate to play currently or possibly even play deeper as an alternative to McGregor but a progressive option. His deal has just over 18 months left so could be got for a reasonable fee.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VGWmkrN0Vkw

Peter Barath, 20 year old Hungarian CM playing with Debrecen in his home land. He is more of an attacking CM but is a tenacious presser from the front as well as being high energy he is sound technically and is 6’1 as well. He made the Hungary senior squad for the last round of nations league games but didn’t get any game time. His deal is up in the summer but his club have a year option.

Eden Karzev, 22 year old Israeli, DCM playing with Maccabi Netanya in Israel and the national U21 side along with Abada. He is around 6’2 and has an athletic physique.
He is an all round solid midfield player with a nice range of passing. He was meant to move to Russia but it fell through due to the war. That deal was worth €2.8m, if he is available for that he could be a good rotation option with McGregor, that could offer defensive solidity as well as the ability to start attacks quickly from deep. To me he looks like an ideal replacement for Bitton but with more physical strength and quicker to move the ball forward.

Antoine Bernede, 23 year old French DCM
in the McGregor style at Red Bull Salzburg. Bernede came through the PSG academy before impressing at Salzburg but had a serious injury (fractured tibia) in the 20/21 season as a youngster. Typical to Salzburg style, they bring in so many players that when he recovered he found himself down the pecking order, having been considered one of, if not there best holding centre midfielder. He plays the role as a progressive passer from deep and despite not being the biggest physically is very adept at taking the ball of opposition attackers and has good positional sense. He can also carry the ball too and has good mobility. The one caveat I haven’t seen much of him lately so I don’t know if he is still the player he was but if he is he’s a good player. Also available on a bosman this January.

Agustin Rossi, 27 year old Argentinian GK for Boca Juniors who is out of contract at the end of the season. He is an excellent shot stopper, Comfortable with the ball at his feet and has good distribution. This one’s more a long shot as he is their number one but he wants to move to Europe and his only offer in the summer was Girona (City Group) but it was only a bid of €2.5m but it was rejected.

Agustin Almendra, 22 year old Argentinian AM, for Boca Juniors. Eighteen months ago he had top clubs in big leagues chasing him and was being tipped for great things but a fall out with the management at Boca has led to him being demoted back to the B team for refusing to sign a new deal and a discipline issue. Now that does ring alarm bells but the guy is a real talent and if Ange got the right vibe from him about getting his head down he could be a real coup. He is great on the ball tenacious off it and can play box to box or AM. He is also just shy of the 6 foot mark with a solid build and decent pace. Clubs like Almeria and Toulouse were linked in the summer but couldn’t get a deal done, he is a free agent in the summer 23.

Dion Drena Beljo, 20 year old Croatian, ST at Osijek. Beljo is a big striker at about 6’4 but has a bit of everything. He has the ability to back in and be physical against a CB and link the play, has a burst of pace to run away from defenders, has a cracking left foot capable from outside the box as well as in. He also has very good dribbling ability for a guy so tall and is not afraid to run at defenders and take them on. Unlike a lot of the rest of this list he would not come cheap as Gladbach and a few other teams have been linked so may cost €8-10m or so but if he continues to develop he will be the real deal given the attributes he already displays. He has 6 goals and 2 assists in 11 this season and had 20 goals and 4 assists in 37 playing on loan for one of the weakest teams in the league last season. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Wep2V3LCTwE

 

Mateo Retegui. Could be worth keeping tabs on this guy. Watched one of his games earlier and he has something about him. Strong, technical and a good finisher.

 

If we decide to buy a new keeper (I do think Ange will keep Hart, though), an affordable option is Ivica Ivušić of NK Osijek. He's been impressive for the Croatian NT in most games he's had, including the double header vs. France in the League of Nations. The reason why he hasn't claimed the main GK spot for Croatia is that Livaković's club is in Champions League.

Unlike the more renowned Livaković, Ivušić is good with the ball at his feet and at claiming crosses. Solid shot stopper.

 

For another striker who can also play off the right we could do worse than look at Artem Dovbyk. We came up against him for Ukraine but I didn’t think he had a good game then but he has been on fire domestically and in the conference league so far.

He is a unit about 6’2 and well built like GG but also has a real turn of pace and a cracking left foot. Come January he will only have a year on his deal as well.

 

Óscar Estupiñán

 

I wonder if we should go back in for Vinícius de Souza again. He is only on loan at Espanyol.
And loans can be broken.

 

Someone on here watched him play, and said that he wasn't all that great. TBH, Abildgaard is what we need, but in order for us to get the best out of him, we have to drop the "play out of the back" imperative.

 

Atsuki Ito looks a player. A bit of Calmac about him.

Enzo Copetti, a striker/winger that looks a real handful but would cost a fair chunk.

 

David Datro Fofana. 19 year old Striker playing for Molde in Norway. Started off as a winger but has moved into the central striker role this year.

He's quick, strong and tricky. Looks a decent finisher as well. Played 34 games in all competitions this season, scoring 19 and assisting 3. Looks excellent at 19.

Also, Marin Ljubicic. 20 year old Striker playing for LASK in Austria. Played 15 games this season, scored 13 and assisted one. Looks strong, quick and a powerful runner off the ball.

 

Jean Philippe Krasso.

Plays for St Etienne in Ligue 2. They're in the relegation zone and he's scored 8 and assisted 3 in 11 games.

I also like the look of Frimrose Mendy for Armiens.

Definitely some players in Ligue 2.

 

Yasuto Wakizaka looks alright.

 

Still think we should be looking at Levitt at Dundee United, by far their best player and almost a certainty to leave in January with how poor United are doing.

Plays in the 6 role, good shot on him, good with the ball, not too slow. Sell Ideguchi/McCarthy, loan out Robertson and bring Levitt in.