“This seems to have come out of the blue,” Walker on Giakoumakis

Former Celtic striker Andy Walker considered the situation of both Giorgos Giakoumakis and Josip Juranovic last night on Go Radio. Juranovic has been enjoying a mightily impressive showing for Croatia at the World Cup, reaching the semi-finals before losing to a Lionel Messi inspired Argentina.

His journey back to Celtic will begin after Saturday’s third place place-off match against the team of the tournament Morocco, whose performance last night against France may have reminded you of Celtic in the Champions League this season.

While Juranovic has been starring in Qatar, Giakoumakis has changed his agent and with that has come all sorts of media stories which appear designed towards securing him a move away from Celtic, the latest being a suggestion that a mega-bucks deal to take the 28 year old to Saudi Arabia could be on the cards and of course the weather is better there too, we are reminded.

Ange Postecoglou isn’t likely to be too happy at all this chatter and Giakoumakis may already have heard his manager’s opinion on these stories…

(Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN/AFP via Getty Images)

READ THIS…No Celtic player has got Ange really angry, Giakoumakis is a brave man

There is no doubt that there will be solid, tangible interest in Josip Juranovic after his excellent showing at the World Cup and it could well be that now is the right time for both the player and Celtic to look at a move with Celtic already having signed Canada’s World Cup star Ally Johnston as a third right back in the first team squad.

Giorgos Giakoumakis applauds supporters at the end of the Champions League  match between Celtic FC and Shakhtar Donetsk, at the Celtic Park  on October 25, 2022.  (Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN/AFP via Getty Images)

On Giakoumakis it isn’t as clear-cut in terms of clubs being interested and the stories that have been leaked to the media has all been short on detail regarding possible destinations for the seemingly unhappy Greek striker, who joined Celtic from relegated Dutch minnows VVV Venlo and ended up playing in the Champions League for Celtic against European Champions Real Madrid.

 Gorgios Giakoumakis celebrates after scoring a goal during the Cinch Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Hearts at Celtic Park,  on 21 August 2022. Photo Malcolm Mackenzie PSI

Walker can see Celtic selling one of the two in this transfer window easily enough  but he gets Ange Postecoglou’s position wrong as it’s already been made abundantly clear by The Celtic manager that he wants to build a team that can compete and improve in the Champions League year-on-year and that will mean developing then selling players and re-investing the profits into the team to reach his goals. Where Ange will be unhappy is if players are sold and the funds are NOT re-invested.

“I think they can get one (a replacement). That’s what Celtic will be looking to do,” Andy Walker said. “This seems to have come out of the blue – Giakoumakis being unhappy. I don’t know if its a family issue but he signed a long-term contract not long ago, so if he does want to go and Celtic are interested in selling him then I assume they would get the money to replace him.

Celtic v Dundee United – Kyogo Furuhashi celebrates scoring Celtic’s third goal during the cinch Premiership match at Celtic Park, Saturday November 5, 2022. Photo Andrew Milligan

“I thought he was terrific and arguably, who is better? Giakoumakis or Kyogo? Kyogo has been magnificent but I think Giakoumakis has been every inch as good as him. I can understand his frustration, he hasn’t started as many, but when he has, his performances have been absolutely terrific,” the Sky Sports pundit said.

On Ange’s position on all of this Walker added: “You always have to ask ‘what does the manager think?’ The manager has transformed that whole club in the time that he’s been there. Against that, you’ve got a club that in general are always willing to do business.

“I think Celtic will always try and do business if it’s a right good fee that they can getting. But how does that compare to what the manager is thinking, and that might be the danger. The last thing they want is for Ange Postecoglou to be upset about decisions made above his head that may affect the balance and the quality of the team.”

About Author

The Celtic Star founder and editor, who has edited numerous Celtic books over the past decade or so including several from Lisbon Lions, Willie Wallace, Tommy Gemmell and Jim Craig. Earliest Celtic memories include a win over East Fife at Celtic Park and the 4-1 League Cup loss to Partick Thistle as a 6 year old. Best game? Easy 4-2, 1979 when Ten Men Won the League. Email editor@thecelticstar.co.uk

Comments are closed.