As the news has hit the mainstream media outlets that Celtic are possibly interested in making Ryan Fraser an offer to bring him back to Scotland, it’s a rumour that has split the opinion of many within the Celtic support and also the wider Scottish footballing community – judging by Clyde Superscoreboard tonight.
For tonight, pundits Mark Wilson and Gordon Dalziel have captured in microcosm the pros and cons of a potential move for Ryan Fraser to join the Hoops ranks under Brendan Rodgers. It’s well known at this point that the Irishman wants another left winger in the door and he is apparently weighing up whether or not to offer the Scotland international a deal, with Newcastle United supposedly encouraging Celtic to start negotiations.
Concurrently, there are two trains of thought on the idea of brining Fraser into the club; one is that he would be an overly expensive addition that doesn’t elevate Celtic to the next level, whilst the other is that he is a player with a wealth of footballing experience at the highest level in the game and he is available and on the market still at a good age.
Wilson argues the former tonight, stating that Fraser isn’t what Celtic are after to make an impact at Champions League level and that Yang Hyun-jun and Daizen Maeda are both just as good as the former Aberdeen man. Whereas Dalziel argues that it’s a player that gives squad depth and big-time experience to the club, with the added bonus of being versatile in offering the manager options with his system and personnel.
Have a listen to both men discuss Ryan Fraser and a potential move up to Celtic Park…
✅ “I think he would bring a lot to Celtic”
❌ “I don’t think he is a player that will take Celtic on”🍀 Gordon Dalziel and @markwilson_12 are split – should Celtic sign Ryan Fraser? pic.twitter.com/Xw3cDfWCbz
— Clyde 1 Superscoreboard (@ClydeSSB) August 15, 2023
Paul Gillespie
We need to aim for better than Fraser. Ange pointed the way as club Brugge have done is step up in budget every window. We bought some £5 & £6 million pound players who are progessing. The next step is £7 – £8 million pound players. Two every window as well as our current model on buying cheaper younger and developing them.
Merlin is in this bracket, is only 21 and can play left back or left wing. He was also 7th in the French league for dangerous crosses last season, with Nantes only having on average 48% possession speaks volumes about the you guys quality.
This is who we should go for.
Never thought I’d say this but I agree with Dalziel. At a bargain price, if he takes a severe wage cut, he’s a player who would add a little more experience to the squad which is never a bad thing, a squad player not a weekly starter, useful to have and ticks boxes in terms of UEFA’s CL entry requirements re: home grown players.
However, the right price has to be a damn cheap price because I sense a little attitude problem with the guy, and that is never a good thing for a squad…