Celtic are being linked with a move for Al-Ahly midfielder Mohamed Magdy as Ange Postecoglou looks to strengthen his squad this January. The club are moving swiftly, already signing Yuki Tobayashi and Ally Johnston before the window has even opened.
This is a huge change in recent times to Celtic being sluggish and reactive in the transfer window. So often, it would be a case of someone having to move on before the new player was able to come in. Not under Ange, Kyogo was signed before Edouard was sold and Giorgos Giakoumakis was quickly in the door too. The club are not longer content with being reactive and that is due to the manager.
The modern transfer approach is underpinned by the manager’s philosophy but also a hungry to go against the football snobbery that exists. So many were quick to write off Ange’s appointment given his lack of pedigree in Europe but he has made so many eat their words with his successes both on and off the pitch.
Mark Lawwell, who was useful in identifying Ange as the next Celtic manager in 2021, arrived in the summer and with his links to the City Football Group, he brought with him a black book of talent. This catalogue of exciting prospects was cultivated with years of scouting for City and their associated clubs and now he and Ange are using it to bring the best and brightest talents to Celtic.
Lawwell is the Head of First Team Scouting and Recruitment at the club. He works closely with Ange and the Australian was delighted to seal his arrival to the club back in the summer. It is clear that the manager is determined to build a successful unit in Glasgow’s East End and this is aided by having like-minded people in the building.
Whilst the news that Peter Lawwell has returned to the club has been met with mixed emotions, it should not undermine the work that Ange, Mark and the rest of the recruitment team are doing to improve the club.
Sky Sports’ Anthony Joseph confirmed that Celtic were scouting in markets that are seldom explored as they hunt for diamonds, including South Korea, Iran & UAE this year.
Celtic have been scouring the globe for talent, with scouts monitoring leagues in countries, including South Korea, Iran & UAE this year.
It’s understood a number of targets from the Middle East, Asia & also North Africa have emerged, including South Korea forward Cho Gue-sung.
— Anthony Joseph (@AnthonyRJoseph) December 4, 2022
It will be exciting to see how the team shapes up as we exit the January window.
