Celtic return to league action today at home to Kilmarnock, looking to, with a little help from Dundee United, close the gap on Hearts, and at the same time keep one eye on a player who could soon become a familiar face at Celtic Park.
With Celtic nine points adrift, albeit with a game in hand, every point is crucial, but David Watson will perhaps also provide an intriguing subplot. The Kilmarnock midfielder, who captains Scotland’s under-21 side, has been strongly linked with a move to Celtic ahead of the January transfer window.
Watson’s form this season has turned heads across the Premiership. Having become an ever-present under Stuart Kettlewell, he’s already proven himself a key figure for Killie, and a recurring thorn in Celtic’s side, having scored against us three times in his young career.
Reports suggest Celtic’s interest stems not only from his potential but also from practical squad-building needs.
The club are under pressure to meet UEFA’s homegrown player quota, requiring at least eight Scottish-trained players for European registration.
With Watson’s contract at Rugby Park expiring at the end of the season, a move could represent smart business. Kilmarnock however are likely to be reluctant to sell mid-season as they fight to secure Premiership safety.
Watson’s all-action style and leadership at youth international level make him one of the brightest domestic prospects, and his performance at Celtic Park today could perhaps further strengthen our interest.
While the club continues to monitor homegrown talent, Celtic scouts have also been busy abroad it seems. In Morocco, reports claim the Hoops have made an enquiry for Houssam Essadak, captain of the Morocco Under-20s team who lifted the Under-20 World Cup last month.
Essadak led his nation to a historic triumph in Chile, beating European heavyweights Spain, France, and Brazil before defeating Argentina 2–0 in the final. The 20-year-old, who plays for Union Touarga , is said to have stood out throughout the tournament as a creative, attacking midfielder.
Celtic are reported to have asked his club for a valuation, joining Sunderland in the chase for his signature. Essadak had been close to joining Las Palmas in the summer for around £400,000, but the move collapsed after the Spanish club’s relegation.
Celtic’s recent success with Tunisian winger Sebastian Tounekti, another North African recruit, has perhaps encouraged further scouting in the region. However, with Premier League competition for Essadak’s signature, any deal may prove challenging.
Despite growing transfer speculation, it remains uncertain how much progress Celtic will make until a new permanent manager is appointed, after all Dermot Desmond’s recent statement made it clear that player signings are ultimately sanctioned by the first-team manager.
That stance suggests that while recruitment groundwork is being laid for January, significant moves, whether for homegrown talent like Watson or emerging internationals like Essadak, may have to wait until a new figure is in the dugout.
Still, it’s encouraging for supporters to see Celtic scouting both at home and abroad once again. Today’s match could serve as both a test of the team’s league title defence, and possibly also a glimpse of a future talent in opposition colours.
Niall J
Way too early to be looking at the January window, with the amount of uncertainty within our club at present.
Still a very challenging period of matches after the international break also, so can’t even predict where we actually will be as a club on our footballing ventures either, with the demands our club requires within it.
So a massive decision awaits over the international break, as to what is going to be the outcome, regarding the managers position. That alone will determine our business come January.
Still think that there is possibly more than 3 players currently, within our squad, who potentially see there futures elsewhere imo.
Our position within the europa league will determine how we as a club, will address such an issue, especially if we remain with injuries as they currently are?
So hardly an easy task for any manager to potentially address, and still think that the board would prefer MoN to address it, rather than place it upon a new manager imo?
The summer will bring a big overhaul regarding players next summer, regardless of who is in the position of making the decisions upon squad building?
However, Watson is a potential interesting rumour, all the same
Personally believe that a squad building process should start from within regarding our homegrown quota requirements imo.
Becoming a bigger factor, with such an increased footballing calendar in operation nowadays.
No longer can we really afford to just fill these 8 positions with homegrown players, who aren’t able to provide much for ourselves in a playing capacity.
With that in mind, would like ourselves to get to a position, where we aren’t looking at a 3rd keeper choice, just filling homegrown requirements. So could a keeper be found who could fill the position, while holding B team status, and allowing for the extra outfield player within our squad?
Even at that, if you are building a squad, 2 players for each position, within how the team is going to be set up, allowing for the extra defender, midfielder and attacking option within it.
Even with the likes in place, there is a fair amount of flexibility required within a squad, or we just end up becoming totally 1 dimensional.
The problems still exists, that the quality factor, within our 8 homegrown quota, lacking the quality factors required in having to step up to European football, especially if such doubts remain at SPFL levels. So development has to be hugely improved for ourselves, while putting extra pressure upon ourselves into getting a transfer window correct.
Haven’t got any issues regarding ourselves getting so many potential development players, outside of our European squad. Already been required with the injuries sustained this season.
Would be more value to ourselves, if we had a better coaching set up in place, so the development process could become more beneficial, and hence reducing the pressure upon transfer windows for ourselves.
So don’t disagree with an approach taken over the summer, because it’s a requirement within such a busy and relentless footballing calendar in place, for our players to contend with, over a long season.
Do have however, that the coaching and development is still struggling to produce, to ease the managers job, especially if he has to venture outside a European squad, to help out injuries and player fatigue for a SPFL campaign.
Currently not to sure if we have 7/8 homegrown players within our squad. So has Watson got the potential to warrant a place within our squad at present, and better than what we already have within our club?
Think it would be hard to make a case to say NO, with the situation that exists presently within our club imo?
Yes fit in well its the consistented that players you see it in McCowan Engels they need two seasons to show that consisent but down our supporters give then tjat our medai dosent not fair our team is not up to it yet and people blame top transfer players give these players another season some need more spl alright but to play three games a week catches them out especailly Celtic when a draw is not good enough thats a lot of pressure for young players against kilmarnock today you see the players arent enjoying playing with group of fans that have been good for atmosphere but lately they are protesting instead of supporting the team they gave now bee suspendid fir six games 3home 3 away there palastinen suppprt is not on there are more troubles in the world we are a club for all but cause of these flag waving we cant say that Israelis and jews are not going to sign for Celtic these are anaurchist who through the last 3to4 years have attached themselves to the ulrtas its the younger version of the green brigade been younger the are nieve and these anaurchist not many but well orgaised they kniw where they will get noticed just in front of curve where our kids stand you see he or her waving the big flag palastinen so people already in europe veleive Celtic as a club supports palastinens so that means you are against Israelisthat off course means jewish people disgrace