Olivier Thomert - TM's French Fancy

CELTIC are eyeing a New Year swoop for French winger Olivier Thomert.
Hoops gaffer Tony Mowbray had the talented Rennes attacker watched at the weekend.

Rennes are ready to cash in on Thomert in January as his contract expires next summer.

Coach Frederic Antonetti is resigned to losing the wide man and wants cash for a replacement.

Sources in France claim they'd accept £800,000 in January rather than lose him for nothing. But could still face competition for the highly-rated Thomert when the transfer window reopens.

Portsmouth also scouted the 29-year-old - a one-time £8million target for Spurs - in the goalless draw at Lille.

Blackburn, Bolton and Espanyol were also linked with him during the last transfer window, so Celtic could be involved in a mid-winter scramble for the sought-after star.

Thomert has played almost 300 top-flight games in France and if Celts follow up their interest in the winger, it could signal an exit for Aiden McGeady. SunSport revealed yesterday, that Birmingham boss Alex McLeish is plotting an £8m January swoop for the Irish star.

Mowbray needs cash to bolster his squad as he seeks to win back the SPL title from Rangers.

Meanwhile, winger Romeo Castelen is the latest Hamburg player to be ruled out of Thursday's Europa League clash with Celtic. The Germans are already without starting strike pairing Mladen Petric and Jose Guerrero plus Collin Benjamin, Alex Silva, Marcell Jansen and Bastian Reinhardt.

Boss Bruno Labbadia admitted: "It's not a good situation to be in."

 

Tony’s French fancy | The Sun |Home Scotland|Scottish Sport|SPL

 

bullshittypical rags at this time of year

 

why do we want sum winger that noones ever heard of, were crying out for 3 good strikers, 1 solid center mid and 2 decent center halfs,

 

totally agee!

 

Agree and disagree.

Agree that we have wingers coming out our ears, and the priority should be strikers and centre backs.

Disagree that Thomert is an unknown - he's highly-regarded and has been round the block. Will probably end up in La Liga.

Disagree that we need a "solid" centre mid. We're jam-packed with "solid" midfielders. We need a skilful, imaginative centre-mid, in the Naka or Lubo mould. We are genuinely crying out for that: the lack of an imaginative, flair playmaker is what's stopping our team from working.

 

Is ZZ not in that mould?

 

I dunno, I see him as more of an allrounder. I haven't seen the imaginative cutting edge yet - but maybe after settling in that might come.

Also hoping there are no snags in the Ki Sung-Yong deal. High hopes there, perhpas...

 

hmm speculation

 

Gotta agree with the hand, ive always liked Thomert...he defo isnt unheard of. Watched a lot of him in his Lens days, i'd take him for 800k. Fair do's we have mcgeady, maloney, mcginn, mccourt, robson... blah blah. But id take him, and we dont need 3 strikers lol.

 

Spot on

 

hopefully this will hapen still leaving us 7 million to spend on what we need a striker and i dont mean a postman

 

It looks like McGeady leaving is inevitable...
If we get 8M then probs go for it. Get a midfielder with flair, a striker to partner fortune( that scores goals) and a CB to replace Caldwell.

 

I would only take him If McGeady were to leave but I hope it dosent come to that, McGeadys the man !

 

I agree with what you are saying mate, we do need a creative midfielder. But if i'm not mistaken, did we not play Naka and Lubo on the flanks and drifting inside. Maybe your man Thomert is a winger in the same mould?!

I'm kinda glad Mowbray is looking to France for signings. I believe there are a few hidden gems to be found there.