Celtic could be set to sign highly rated Kilmarnock midfielder David Watson in the January transfer window, according to a report in The Herald…
Stephen McGowan is the source and that brings more credibility to the story than most of the internet stories that are the norm, with so many of these stories coming from unreliable sources. The report describes Watson as a coveted midfielder and notes that the current Scotland U21 captain’s contract is up at the end of the season.
That means the player is free to speak to other clubs in January and can go on to sign a pre-contract deal before making the move in the summer. Then there’s the option of his new club making a deal with Kilmarnock if they are so minded to do so.
David Watson, who is a product of Kilmarnock’s youth academy, is one of a number of Scottish players, according to McGowan, who the Scottish Champions are looking at as they look to maintain a minimum of eight homegrown players in future European squads. He has scored three goals this season, one against Celtic in the controversial 2-1 defeat in September when Celtic were awarded a stoppage time penalty.
The report notes that Watson’s transfer valuation was around £1.2m in the summer but as his contract runs down that price will be lower as the player could walk away for nothing at the end of the season. Kilmarnock probably would look at maximising their income from a January sale and re-investing in the team to push away from the relegation and play-off spots where they current sit above the two bottom sides Dundee and Livingston.
UEFA rules stipulate that eight players must be homegrown, while the remaining 17 can be foreign and Celtic are currently operating with a 24 man squad having failed to reach the home grown quota.
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Sorry David
Think you are wrong about our 8 homegrown quota players.
Calmac, Tierney, McCowan, Forrest, Ralston, Kenny, Murray and Doohan
Currently fill our homegrown requirements imo?
Even Donovan would qualify as a B list player again next season.
McCowan still seems to struggle for game time, especially in European matches, so more of a rotational player within the SPFL.
So where exactly would Watson fit into our squad, especially without a permanent manager in place, to be making such decisions?
I can understand having to consider whether Forrest has another season within him, for European football ?
But fail to see how Watson could be considered as a potential replacement, without a manager in place, addressing how he might intend to set the team up.
If you consider that a 25man squad would usually be set up with 2 options for each position.
The extra keeper, defender, and attacking option, tends to complete the full 25man squad.
Even at that, for ourselves, there still needs to be a decent amount of flexibility within it also.
Therefore struggling to see how such a story could make much sense at present imo?