With the signing of Aussie midfielder Riley McGree – assisted ably by Ange Postecoglou’s personal touch – Celtic are currently averaging a signing every two days of this transfer window -this is not a Celtic I recognise, what happened to Willo Flood? – and they may not be done yet, with Football Insider claiming a unnamed ‘recruitment source’ being one of numerous sites that has advised Celtic remain keen on signing a further two forwards to add to Postecoglou’s January sales blow-out.
With five in the door, in Daizen Maeda, Yosuke Ideguchi and Reo Hatate (who will all be speaking to the Celtic Fan Media tomorrow) now being joined by Johnny Kenny and Riley McGree, and with Celtic actively trying to tie up permanent deals for defender Cameron Carter Vickers and Jota, you could safely assume one of those forwards mentioned is likely to be our on-loan Portuguese attacker.
But what of the other?
Ahli’s defender Mohammed al-Fatil (L) is marked by Esteghlal’s forward Mehdi Ghayedi during the AFC Champions League group C match between Saudi’s Al-Ahli and Iran’s Esteghlal on April 27, 2021, at the King Abdullah sport city stadium in the Saudi city of Jeddah. (Photo by -/AFP via Getty Images)
Well, that one may well be Shabab Al Ahli striker Mehdi Ghayedi, with the 23-year-old Iranian forward, who can play on the left or through the middle, apparently attracting an initial bid from Celtic.
Shabab Al Ahli have turned down an official bid from #Celtic for Mehdi Ghayedi. UAE side don’t want to sell the Iranian striker in January, however, Celtic are determined to sign the young talent, so they are planning to offer a new bid for the 23-year-old. pic.twitter.com/uMobdxV5A4
— Hatam Shiralizadeh (@hatam_daddy1980) January 10, 2022
That bid was apparently turned down but with a follow up expected, as reported by Daily Record, Celtic seem keen to get their man. And you may remember Ange speaking to the Celtic Fan Media a month or so ago stating that Iran was another untapped market that he was keen to look at, pointing out that there were numerous players from there he regarded as being excellent.
Esteghlal’s forward Mehdi Ghayedi (R) is marked by Pakhtakor’s defender Khojiakbar Alijonov during the AFC Champions League Round of 16 match between Uzbekistan’s Pakhtakor and Iran’s Esteghlal on September 26, 2020, at the Al-Janoub Stadium in the Qatari city of Al Wakrah. (Photo by MUSTAFA ABUMUNES/AFP via Getty Images)
This one though may be a tough one to pull off considering Shabab Al Ahli only signed the player in August last year, so you can understand their reticence, but if the Celtic are willing to return with a second offer it may well be some encouragement was given during those initial discussions.
You can check out Mehdi Ghayedi out for yourself in the clip below. He may well look like a North East wind may blow him off his feet – more Willow the Wisp than Willo Flood – but he looks an Ange Postecoglou type of player, with that boundless energy, quick bursts and terrific footwork.
Mehdi Ghayedi (R) celebrates scoring during the men’s Group F football match between Iran and North Korea at the 2018 Asian Games at Cikarang on August 17, 2018. (Photo by CHAIDEER MAHYUDDIN / AFP viaGetty Images)
Ange did mention Iranian talent in interviews previously, and now it appears we may well not be finished tapping into fresh transfer markets just yet. This is one certainly worth keeping an eye on, that’s for sure. Incidentally Celtic confirmed today that The Celtic Star will be speaking to Ange Postecoglou later this week ahead of Monday’s match against Hibs at Celtic Park.
Niall J
And for those who missed this one yesterday on The Celtic Star, here’s a catch-up chance to check out the photographs given to this site by the former Celtic Director Tom Grant of the demolition of the old Celtic Park and in its place the emergence of the New Celtic Park which we know and love today. These photographs are fascinating and well worth checking out on the link below…
READ THIS…Exclusive – A Phoenix Rising, a House of Steel. Celtic Park Redevelopment Photographs
Looks as if he mimicking playing a flute at the end of that video.What height is he ,5ft 4 ins? I’m surprised nobody has taken advantage of our lack of height tbh. 🤔