If Amartey rumours are true it signals a shift in strategy

If Amartey rumours are true it could signal a shift in our transfer strategy…

Daniel Amartey takes a knee in support of the Black Lives Matter anti-racism movement prior to the Premier League match between Leicester City and Newcastle United at The King Power Stadium on December 26, 2022. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)

Quite a few rumours are floating around that Besiktas midfielder Daniel Amartey is interesting Celtic, with more than a few saying it’s a deal that’s close to completion. Whether it’s just the usual summer peculation remains to be seen, but if it’s true, it’s something that should make us feel positive about our club in terms of moving forward.

Amartey is not only a decent player, at 29 he’s experienced and first team ready. The £3.5 million that is being quoted is also something the club wouldn’t part with in recent years for a soon to be 30 year old. So this deal could signal a move in our terms of our ‘projects based’ transfer strategy that for the past few years has been to sign relatively unknown younger players with potential in a bid to develop and sell on for a big profit.

There’s nothing wrong with that of course, and it’s something we should be aiming to do all the time, but there has to be a better balance and that is something that Brendan Rodgers has made clear that he wants to happen.

It was a difficult first year back for the Celtic manager as he had to essentially work with the squad and the summer signings that were made, to see what he could get out of them in terms of performances on the park. And he had to deliver silverware and get the better of theRangers in order to get the support fully onside once again after the events of February 2019.

Brendan Rodgers won the Scottish Premiership and the Scottish Cup with what he had – adding only Nicolas Kuhn and his own loan signing, Adam Idah in the January window. Now he has the opportunity to do things his way and will have the backing of both the Celtic Board and the Celtic support.

Bringing in a guy as experienced as Amartey if it does indeed happen would be a positive move. The Ghanaian international is equally as comfortable in midfield or at centre back. He’s strong, he has pace, and he’s good on the ball. Best of all Brendan also knows him from his time at Leicester City, so if any such move comes to fruition, you know it’s one that’s been sanctioned by Brendan himself and that in itself is worth celebrating.

Just an Ordinary Bhoy