Celtic’s Summer Rebuild – Winger and Striker Targets for Nick Hammond

On Thurdsay we started to look at the inevitable summer rebuild job that is going to be necessary after this dreadful season ends. Numerous players in the current squad want away and they should all be allowed to leave the club. There are players on loan who will mostly be going back to their parent clubs – there may be some conversations to be had with Southampton about a bargain buy offer for Moi Elyounoussi but even that seems unlikely.

READ THIS…Everything Celtic: Summer Rebuild – Ten Signing Suggestions for Nick Hammond

Everything Celtic started by naming ten signing suggestions and we’ll have more from them shortly. Then Paul Foley, a reader of The Celtic Star supplied another comprehensive list of potential signing targets and we started by looking at the goalkeeping position as well as the back four.

Last night Paul continued his proposals with a look players for the middle of the park and this morning he takes us through signing suggestions for the wide attacking positions and strikers.  Before that here’s a chance to catch up on his ideas for Celtic’s midfield for next season…

READ IT HERE…Celtic’s Summer Rebuild – Creative Midfield Suggestions for Nick Hammond

And here’s Paul’s opening article where he outlined goalkeeping and back four options for Celtic for news season…

READ THIS…Celtic’s Summer Rebuild – Goalkeeping Ideas and Solid Defender Suggestions

One criticism of Celtic’s recent recruitment policy has been an over concentration on the English market from Nick Hammond and Neil Lennon. Here is Part 3 of Paul Foley’s signing suggestions covering  wingers and strikers  who could make viable signing targets for Celtic this summer. More too to follow from Everything Celtic on this subject.

WINGERS

Isaac Mbenza, Huddersfield, 24 year old former Belgian U21 international. He is a quick powerful winger whose career has stalled a bit but has plenty of talent and is a bosman.

Anthony Scully , Lincoln City, 21 year old talented young ROI U21 international. He is getting used to first team football and creating and scoring goals regularly. Could be a good bosman signing to rotate with Forrest.

Max Svensson, Helsingsborg, 22 year old emerging talent who contract is up in November this year so would be available at a knockdown price in summer or a pre-contract.

Burak Kapacak, Bursaspor, 20 year old Turkish u21 international. Talented powerful winger who has scored and created goals playing on either wing. £2.5mish.

STRIKERS

Jorgen Strand Larsen, Groningen, 20 year old Norwegian International. He would have been a bargain in the summer at less than a million. Now probably cost around £5m but is a big presence at 6’5, can link the play well and is starting to score regularly. He would be a good foil for Ajeti or as a lone striker.

Sydney Van Hooijdonk, NAC Breda, 20 year old and his dad done well for us. He looks a talent and is available as a bosman.

Kenan Karaman, Fortuna Dusseldorf, 26 year old Turkish international who also can play left wing. Scored goals in Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2. Is available as a bosman.

Smail Prevljak, KAS Eupen, 25 year old, regular goal scorer and can link play. Could cost £3mish.

Serdar Dursun, Darmstadt, 29 year old experienced target man who scores regularly and can link play at Bundesliga 2 level. Bosman.

Marko Livaja, AEK Athens, 27 year old centre forward scored against us in CL qualifying and gave our defence a hard shift with his work ethic and quality on the ball. He is a tireless pest and good in the air despite not being the tallest of strikers. Would be a good partner for a goal scorer. Bosman.

David Strelec, Slovan Bratislava, 19 year old who replaced Ivan Sporar when he left. Is a talented player who scores and creates regularly. A bit of a risk given the league he plays in and his age but has good potential. Would cost £3mish.

Daryl Dike, Orlando FC, 20 year old tank of a boy. He is around 6’2 but 15 stone+. He has joined Barnsley on loan (feels like an opportunity missed) but was lighting up MLS when he broke through. Very difficult to stop like his cousin Emineke we came up against for Spartak Moscow and Fenerbahce. Probably cost £4m+ depending how his loan goes.

AND A WEE NOTE FROM PAUL…

Sorry about the length of these suggestions but given lockdown something I have had too much time to look at prior to reading your article, I even have a spreadsheet with more.

I believe we can make around £55-£65m from sales (including the Ntcham fee if he gets kept on at Marseille and the Frimpong money). This would be a big clear out of El Hamed, Boli, Hendry, Ajer (due to contract), Christie, Bitton, Rogic, Shved, Harper, Dembele, Edouard, Bayo and possibly Barkas if his poor form continues.

Not to mention not renewing loans for Laxalt, Duffy or Moi and Scott Brown retiring which would leave us with a big rebuild but a pretty clean slate. Utilising bosmans with a few smart investments could see us rebuild the side with fresh hungry talent, and still pocket approx £40m, which if you take into account the £15m spent this season still leaves us with £25m to help the club financial through what has been a very tough season due to COVID.

Thanks

Paul Foley