With Celtic reportedly on the hunt for two forwards prior to the January window closing, it had been reported Jota on a permanent deal was the first of those deals. Meanwhile Shabab Al Ahli striker Mehdi Ghayedi, the 23-year-old Iranian forward, was the one touted as the next intended target.
Having apparently attracted an initial bid from Celtic, that offer was apparently turned down, but a follow up was expected. As reported by Daily Record, Celtic at that stage seemed keen to get their man.
Iceland’s midfielder Albert Gudmundsson (C) vies for the ball with Armenia’s goalkeeper David Yurchenko (L) during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 qualification Group J football match between Iceland and Armenia in Reykjavik, on October 8, 2021. (Photo by HARALDUR GUDJONSSON/AFP via Getty Images)
This one however was going to be a tough one to pull off considering Shabab Al Ahli only signed the player in August last year, so you could understand their reticence to sell. Now it appears the UAE club are holding firm and if Celtic are looking for another creative wide player option it may not be Ghayedi.
Arya Allahverdi of Iranian Podcast Gol Bezan has stated on his Twitter account that there is no truth in the links having checked the story with those close to the player – ‘Mehdi Ghayedi to Celtic rumours are not true. Confirmed this with his intermediaries.’
If this is right then Celtic are still on the lookout for another forward, and with any deal for Martin Boyle no longer looking value for money, Celtic may turn their attention to AZ Alkmaar’s Albert Gudmundsson.
Alkmaar’s Technical Director Max Huiberts has already told Dutch media (noordhollandsdagblad) that Albert Gudmundsson, a player both Celtic and theRangers have been linked with, has no intention of extending his contract in Holland.
ALKMAAR – lr Albert Gudmundsson of AZ, Anthony Ralston of Celtic FC during the Europa League play-offs match between AZ Alkmaar and Celtic FC at the AFAS stadium on August 26, 2021 Photo VI ANP Sport]
With Gudmundsson’s deal expiring this summer, it would appear there could be scope to get the Icelandic international on a pre-contract deal ahead of the summer or even to negotiate with Alkmaar with a view to a nominal fee being agreed to get a deal done early.
At 24 there is both a talented footballer available to Celtic in Gudmundsson but there is also a player who, should he perform to the standards expected, there is genuine re-sale value to be had. Gudmundsson is predominately a right sided attacker but has proven just adept on the left wing and as such could prove a suitable alternative to Mehdi Ghayedi. And being of a similar age to Ghayedi and with scope to improve, unlike Boyle, it may be Celtic turn their attention to Holland and Gudmundsson during the transfer window.
Niall J
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