Celtic 25/26 Summer transfer window: Stage: Nicholson firing up the Fax Machine

For me celtic need the below for a full season

Goalkeepers - 3 first team ready Keepers.
Right back - 2
Left back - 2
Centre back - 5 (with at least one comfortable at full back if needed)
Wingers - 5
Strikers - 3
Midfielders - 6

Then have a few boys like Bonnar, McCardle training with the first team

 

When you watch us just now, you'd take Brownhill in a heartbeat..

He is 30 this year which isn't ideal but he's box to box, has dig, scores goals and is a leader. He has a fair few things our midfields lacking..

On a free it's a no brainer. Then could put money towards another centre mid with more energy and flair to go with him..

 

I would definitely take him, he provides a goal threat that we have not been able to replace in O’Riley with either Engels or Bernardo. McGregor has had a high goal scoring season for him these days but it was largely based of a series of long range crackers earlier in the season. Brownhill would provide that.

See if Hatate or Engels for that matter left you could sort out our centre midfield for the fee we would get easily. Wages are a different story but the player I would go for is Adem Zorgane playing in Belgium he would be a natural Hatate replacement with his creative passing but he is also around 6 ft, has great stamina and would make a good partner for McGregor in the middle of the park with Brownhill pushed on as a 10 almost.

He would likely cost £6-7m but is 25 coming into his peak years and coming into his prime years. He has two years left on his deal at his current club and it feels like it’s time for him to move to a bigger club. He is also their captain too so you would have three current captains in our midfield 3.

In addition as a versatile attacking midfield, and option for both wings I would go for Benjamin Nygren at Nordsjaelland who has 6 months left on his deal this summer and has indicated he wants to move on. Although only 23, he has been their captain too and is a classy player who would be a bargain at less than £2m. Another who provides a goal threat and creativity he is also slightly built but over 6ft with decent pace.

So for under £10m outlay we could bring in 3 good centre midfield options of differing profiles and have a winger who could play either side thrown into the mix.

 

I think I heard him suggested on the 20MT scouting podcast they have with that guy from The Athletic - he did sound like a good fit but a bit more of a deep lying midfielder as opposed to a Hatate replacement

 

Is that Zorgane? Yeah does tend to sit deeper but can burst up the pitch and carry the ball he also has an excellent passing range. To me he and McGregor both being intelligent players could take it in turns to sit deepest and the other get forward to support the attack.

We also need to remember with Tierney playing we are likely to have another full back bombing on like Johnston on the right and not inverting like Taylor does so having. Two deeper sitting CM’s to cover the ground wouldn’t be a bad thing. He would also give us a better option for playing out and that sort of mid block press as he is press resistant and can take the ball and get turned, then play forwards.

Essentially I am not really looking to replace like for like it would more be that I think having a three of players in the mould of Zorgane, McGregor, Brownhill would be more effective than the current, three we start.

 

Can anyone give me a quick rundown on who is likely to leave this summer? First team/squad players like Taylor etc... sorry I've been busy and not really kept up with rumours.. cheers

 

Likely out the door from the current squad

Kuhn
Hatate
Taylor(end of contract)
Nawrocki
Bain

From players out on loan

lagerbielke
Palma
Tilio
Welsh
Holm
Kwon

 

Add daizen to that list if he doesn't take new contract offer club will not let his value dwindled not a * chance he will be sold from under Rodgers as we always look to "maximise value"

Holm is on loan to January 26.

 

There has also been some chat about CCV
moving on.

Engels had some links in Italian media to Atalanta last week but it was reported we were not willing to sell unless a crazy offer came in.

 

Brownhill would be * ideal here , he's just his 20 odd goals from CM in the championship, and offers plenty more outwith the goals. On a free it addresses a huge problem for us without taking funds away from other pressing areas like the wings , CB and striker and probably a more defensive midfielder .

 

I've been keeping tabs on Zorgane's stats this year as he seems to be pretty consistent in Belgium over the last 3 or 4 years there.

@Belgian_lad said he's a bit reckless in tackles but I'd say we need someone willing to be a bit reckless and put themselves about.

His stats seem crazy good.

 

He is the second top rated player in the league by Fotmob. I know it’s not a perfect judgement but to me he has a lot of what we need.

- strong physically and can take the ball and get turned.
- he has very good stamina and isn’t slow
- he has an eye for a pass whether it’s short or long.
- he may only have 3 or 4 assists but his XA is nearly 12 which for a deep lying midfielder screams creative and he has a lack of his team mates finishing those chances off.

I also think he complements McGregor in what he brings to a team in that deep lying play making role but with the ability to occasionally burst beyond.

If he is a bit overly aggressive then as you say it’s about managing that but the fact he is a captain and used to being a main man at his club can only help us as I think we have too many that lack that sort of mentality.

 

Yeah he falls into that "here for a few years and will naturally look for a new challange" bracket brendan spoke about few months back i fear

 

I was listening to 20MT and their scout said exactly the same.

I've been wanting him for a while tbh. Think we'll get two centre mids in as I think Hatate will be off.

I'll be delighted if one of them is Zorgane. Seems to tick a lot of boxes for us.

 

I don't think he'd come to us then, given how regularly McGregor plays.

 

The last window failing to get a striker and winger in with Jota has came back to bite us..

Jota had barely played any football
We'd sold our main striker and the manager was vocal about wanting another in

Aye Maeda softened that blow big time but our main left winger was now our first choice number 9..

There's been some games where the lack of depth has shown in the second half of the season..

Idah has scored goals but isn't the main man. Doesn't have the link up side to his game
Forrest wasn't available
Kuhn's form fell off a cliff
Yang came in from the cold but has shown why he isn't the answer moving forward
The lack of options in central midfield have been a big problem with 4 for 3 positions for much of the time

We still had enough to get the treble over the line but there's no doubting 1. We would've had far better quality options to pick from when you look at how threadbare the bench was Saturday and 2. We would've left ourselves with far less work to do this summer..

We know Kvistgaarden was our main target up top. For whatever reason it didn't and likely won't happen now.
We know we tabled a bid for Orjasaeter

There's no reason why we shouldn't be getting our top targets in early after the failures of January, particularly with a qualifier on the horizon..

 

He might not be a marquee name but Brownhill would be a massive coup for us. He’d play for Burnley in the Prem no bother, but he’s probably sick of the yoyoing.

 

What failures in January.? Reported or imaginary failures ?. January is notoriously difficult to conclude transfer deals as we all know. Our squad was good enough to take Villa to the last kick of the ball in Champions League, win the double, and fall just short of a Treble, because of one individual player's major faux pas.

We had Maeda, Idah and Kenny for the striker role. The loss of both Hatate and Jota could not be foreseen. Kuhn's form falling off a cliff could not be foreseen.

I would suggest there was no collective failures, either by the management, board or the squad.

* happens, I'm happy enough with the Double, the Treble is water under the bridge now, we need to move on and start planning for the new season.

I agree with you, the sooner the better.

 

Shut up man..

 

Wouldn’t be surprised to see some names come out soon