Celtic are being tipped to sign prolific Norwegian striker Joshua King on a free transfer after Noel Whelan suggested that the Everton attacker won’t be signed on a permanent basis meaning that the 29-year-old will be able to join Celtic in the summer on a free transfer.
According to Whelan when speaking to Football Insider, Carlo Ancelotti will be unlikely to make King’s deal in Merseyside permanent leaving Celtic free to sign the hitman as a potential replacement for Odsonne Edouard. Prospective Celtic manager Eddie Howe signed King when he was the Bournemouth manager in 2015. King played some of his best football under Howe and often credited his footballing ethos, scoring 53 goals and 19 assists in over 180 appearances for The Cherries.
“You look to Ancelotti, you look to a lot of managers – they bring in their own. It’s no different to Jose Mourinho and Reguilon from Real Madrid. He has seen him, seen him work, he knows what he’s getting. That’ll be know different for Eddie Howe. We know Josh King’s available.
“Everton aren’t taking that on. He would be fantastic for the Scottish game and Celtic. Maybe he’ll delve into the market for that one, he knows what’s happening in the summertime. The two of them know each other very well.
“It wouldn’t surprise me if he delves into the market and takes people that he knows and trusts.
“That’s what managers generally do, using their own contacts and the relationships they have with players. That would only be a positive for Celtic.”
With just eight appearances for Everton (all from the bench) and no goals, a report from Football Insider claimed that Ancelotti has already decided to pursue other striking options in the summer. This could mean that Celtic could swoop to set a reunion up with Howe and King.
The 54-capped striker could be the perfect replacement for exit-bound Odsonne Edouard, who will likely command a record transfer fee in the summer. The 23-year-old Frenchman decided to change agents recently as the most obvious indication that he is planning a move in the summer. King will know enough about given that two of his international teammates, Kris Ajer and Moi Elyounoussi are at Celtic. However, he will likely have also heard the disparaging comments by the Norwegian camp about their concerns over the quality in Scotland which may result in King looking for a lower half Premier League side.
The fact Ajer was getting selected for the national team surely suggests their manager didn’t always
think the Scottish standard was holding him back.