Celtic’s top priority should be to get Cameron Carter-Vickers signed on a permanent deal from Tottenham as soon as possible, that’s the view of a mightily impressed Charlie Nicholas writing in his Tuesday morning column in Scottish Daily Express. And the former Sky Sports pundit took in the action at the weekend at Ibrox and issued his own verdict on the title chances of the current Scottish Champions, otherwise known as the One Season Wonders.
“I would have to say if I was Ange Postecoglou, I would be making Cameron Carter-Vickers’ future my immediate priority. There are the likes of Jota and other different targets but Carter-Vickers has to be their top target,” Nicholas stated.
“You would hope automatic entry to the Champions League might inspire him to stay. If Celtic can they have to suss Carter-Vickers and now. I have got a feeling that if it goes towards the £10 million mark for a transfer from Tottenham Hotspur then it just might not be achievable,” the former Celtic striker added.
Of course the smart money is on Celtic securing the deal for the £6m fee that was apparently agreed with Tottenham at the start of the season when CCV signed on the last day of the transfer window. The permanent deal for £6m would have gone through back then had the clock not been against Celtic. The loan deal was therefore agreed with the option to buy.
If CCV wishes to remain at Celtic then that is exactly what is going to happen and all indications are promising that the big man sees his future in the Hoops, with Champions League football something not on offer elsewhere.
“I know they will get good money from Europe but I am not sure if they will be able to match the salary he could get elsewhere,” continued Charlie.
“I don’t know what it is about him. He comes across as a big, calm individual. The defender is strong and physical and he has done really well for Celtic. There is no doubt there will be big clubs looking at him, thinking he could do a job for them. His passing is decent and I think it will be a big fight to keep him,” Nicholas added.
Next the former Arsenal man turned his attention to the woes of the One Season Wonders. “The Premiership title has gone for (the)Rangers, it is that simple. It is effectively seven points when you look at Celtic’s goal difference. Celtic are not going to drop points in three of their remaining league games. In my opinion, the better team won on Sunday at Ibrox. Celtic didn’t have to be at their best.
“Ange Postecoglou doesn’t sit back because his instinct is always to attack and, because of that, even when they go behind they still remain dangerous. What has impressed me most of all about Ange’s team is that defensively they are getting better and better.
“Yes, we know the central defenders have mistakes in them and the full-backs can be exposed. But Joe Hart hardly had a save to make. He had more to do from the idiot that threw the broken glass on to the park than he did from theRangers team.
“Celtic’s weakness is when they don’t have the ball, but now they have improved defensively and they are a lot stronger. That is why Christopher Jullien can’t get back in.
“The other issue I took from the game was that (the)Rangers couldn’t pass the ball. They were awful when in possession. The only passing move of significance from (the)Rangers came from their early goal and showed why Aaron Ramsey had to be in the team.
“That just allowed Celtic to grow in stature and yet again mistakes were made by Allan McGregor.
“If (the)Rangers play against Braga like they did against Celtic then they could go out of the Europa League on Thursday. It could be all over in the first leg unless there is a dramatic improvement from the weekend. (the)Rangers just didn’t keep the ball and had no purpose.
It’s clear that Christopher Jullien is going to struggle to get back into this Celtic team if Cameron Carter-Vickers and Carl Starfelt are both fit. However its a squad game, injuries happen and Jullien really just has to bide his time and wait for his chance to come. Remember too Stephen Welsh is available for selection and never lets Celtic down when he plays.
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