With so much of the footballing debate going down party lines at the moment it’s no wonder solutions to ending the football season in a fair and constructive manner have yet to be reached.
As such planning beyond the next few weeks may well be far from most people’s thoughts for now. However as we touched on in an article earlier in the week Nick Hammond and his recruitment team will be trying to do just that. Planning ahead.
As we mentioned in that previous article, Hammond must be cursing his luck. The worldwide pandemic of coronavirus will mean diligent recruitment may well be impossible. With Leagues now suspended and possibly ending, as well as extensive travel bans now in place, it makes planning the ins and outs a little tricky to say the least.
We also considered, even talking terms with players you have already identified and carried out due diligence on, could have obvious difficulties. When it comes to negotiation preference for any club has to be face-to-face, something now virtually impossible.
Instead we looked at the prudence of ensuring we keep what we have. Celtic are in the fortunate position of having key players under contract. It may be those who we wish to get on new deals such as Ajer, Edouard and Christie whose contracts all expire in 2022, could see tempting offers placed in front of them to ensure Celtic are protected. The players themselves may be more open to the security an extended contract offers them, considering transfer deals away from the club will also meet the similar roadblocks that Celtic are bound to encounter.
For those on loan we know what we have and we know what they offer. We can do those deals with Stoke for Bauer or Southampton for Ellyounoussi and Forster. Perhaps again our budget should be pointed in that direction this season and the risk on fresh recruitment put on the back burner.
There is a big risk however that those three loan players may well be recalled by their parent clubs, as those sides try protect their own pool of players should summer transfers prove to be as difficult as we’d predict.
On top of those loan players Celtic have four other first team players in Jonny Hayes, Craig Gordon Daniel Arzani and Calvin Miller in the final years of their contracts.
Arzani, who is now back home in Australia, was on a two year loan deal and he looks on his way out now, with his agent keen to get him a club where he can re-start a career dreadfully blighted by injury in the last couple of years.
Craig Gordon’s age, limited playing time and hefty weekly wage, will undoubtedly mean a new deal won’t be offered and Jonny Hayes has yet to be offered a new contract, though you’d think given the circumstances scope for another year may be a possibility.
Calvin Miller a player who showed so much promise at youth level also experienced a bad injury in September last year. It ended his season and now with his deal expiring in the summer it may have led to a rather sad end to a once promising Celtic career.
When doors close in football it often means opportunity knocks for others. Celtic’s summer spending saw a lot of young talent arrive and some of those players can fill the gaps of those moving on.
The two obvious players would be the January signings of Ismaila Soro and Patryk Klimala.
If league football doesn’t resume as expected until August at the earliest, both players would have had eight months to settle in to a new culture on and off the field and get to grips a little with the English language, an area where Celtic offer a great deal of help these days.
Luca Connell may well feel he could replace Jonny Hayes versatility on the left side of defence, particularly in the wing back role he fulfilled at Bolton Wanderers, while young centre half Stephen Welsh returned from a successful loan spell with Morton and has already started for the first team in a 4-1 win at Hamilton. His versatility means he also offers additional cover as a right full back.
Ewan Henderson showed a great deal of promise before going on loan to Ross County. He was recalled from that loan in January and is back training now with the first team squad. Next season could well see young Henderson stake a claim.
There are also players out on loan coming back with a bit more experience under their belts who could also negate those transfer window difficulties.
Conor Hazard would be keen to step up to first team duties and replace Craig Gordon. His loan spell at Dundee seems to have been a success, while Jonatan Afolabi has been starting and scoring for Dunfermline of late and would give another option up front, or even on the left of midfield for Neil Lennon to ponder.
Lee O’Connor offers a good option at full back should Mauritz Bauer return to Stoke City, his spell on loan at Partick Thistle can only have benefited his development. He came highly regarded from Manchester United and would back himself to impress given the opportunity.
Then of those a little younger still, we have two young stars who will already feel they can push for a place in the first team squad.
England youth internationalist Armstrong Okoflex who can play as a left winger and also through the middle has been a standout performer for the development squad, and of course one we’ve already had fleeting glimpses of at first team level, Karamoko Dembele. Physically there may yet be doubts as to whether the body is quite ready, however he’s not going to grow to 6 ft 6 anytime soon and it’s clear the footballing ability is there for anyone to see.
This summer may be tough on the transfer front and new signings may be limited this year. Some players it would also seem, will be closing the door behind them. As a result last summer’s recruitment being focused primarily on young talent may come home to roost.
It’s up to those players to open the door when opportunity knocks.
Niall J
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