Celtic are reportedly set to offer a deal to Ryan Fraser. The Newcastle United winger has been training with the Development Team at St James’ Park as Eddie Howe looks to move him on.
According to the Northern Echo’s Chief Sports Writer, Scott Wilson, Celtic are keen on the Scotland Internationalist.
Wilson is a reliable source for Newcastle transfer rumours and there has been chatter that Celtic were considering the ex-Aberdeen man for some time.
Fraser was linked with Celtic after he left Bournemouth but no move transpired. The nippy winger is 29-years-old and still has a lot of football in him. In 178 Premier League appearances, Fraser has 18 goals and 35 assists. It is not a bad return considering the type of team that he has been playing with and you’d have to think that he’d have more opportunities at Celtic.
The next question is whether the ex-Aberdeen man would want to return to Scotland. Given that he’d get to compete for trophies and play in Europe, you’d imagine yes.
Then, you have to question whether Celtic would need him. With Marco Tilio and Yang Hyun-jun signing this window and Jota departing, there is an argument that there could be space for a winger that can play on either side. Especially if Daizen Maeda is to be preferred through the middle.
As he is a Scottish trained player, he would offer another option on the Champions League squad list. This is an important factor as the manager will need to consider this shortly, given the first games are not too far away.
He has effectively been out of footballing action for almost a year, has previously had a lengthy layoff with injury and apparently has an attitude problem. Besides that, I think there are far better quality players available for the kind of money Celtic would have to spend on Frazer. I don’t think Ryan Frazer is exactly the kind of marquee signing the fans have in mind. He’s more market than marquee, more Barras than Harrods!
I’d take him .. but, Duk a far better & cheaper option/prospect. If BR didnae know him before, he does now