On the transfer front this week it has been generally quiet as regards Celtic stories, yet one move that has caught the attention is the news that former Bhoys’ target Steven Fletcher is set to move to Dundee United, as Jack Ross sets about rebuilding the side that was left to him by Tam Courts.
Football Scotland have reported it is part of a double move by the Tannadice outfit that also sees Dylan Levitt – who scored a peach against Celtic on title clinching day – make the move to Tayside from Manchester United.
Fletcher is quite the coup for the tangerine half of the City of Discovery, having considerable experience at the highest levels of the game. Once of Hibs, Celtic failed to capitalise on yet another domestic talent and the player left to join Burnley for around £4 million back in 2009. That January we were crying out for a striker and the obvious answer was Fletcher. However, like many stories of a Peter Lawwell nature we declined to give the Scottish team what they wanted for a super talent. Or so the story goes…
: Steven Fletcher of Stoke City shoots at goal during the Sky Bet Championship match between Stoke City and Blackpool at Bet365 Stadium on March 05, 2022 in Stoke on Trent, England. (Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)
Fletcher went on to have a very good career down South, managing to earn big money moves with a host of English club’s. Celtic went on to lose the League title that season as we started the heavy decline after Gordon Strachan had sealed 3-in-a-row for the club – including the comeback king’s year when we sadly lost one of our favourite son’s; Tommy Burns.
At 35, it’s very safe to say that Steven’s best playing years are well and truly behind him, however, he will still be a nuisance for opposition defenders in the cinch Premiership next term. Big, athletic and very strong in the air, it wouldn’t surprise me if he is one of the best performers on a weekly basis this coming season.
Steven Fletcher of Stoke City and Patrick Bauer of Preston North End battle for possession during the Sky Bet Championship match between Stoke City and Preston North End at Bet365 Stadium on January 03, 2022 in Stoke on Trent, England. (Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)
We will be able to watch from afar as we see the dying embers of an excellent career and think to ourselves: ‘what if?’.
Paul Gillespie