Celtic have been encouraged to bid for Newcastle’s outcast winger, Ryan Fraser, after being told he wouldn’t cost an arm and a leg to procure from the English Premier League side. Former Aberdeen man Fraser’s club prospects are diminished at his current employer as both he and two others have been told to seek pastures new by Eddie Howe.
Ryan Fraser of Scotland is seen during the UEFA Nations League League B Group 1 match between Scotland and Republic of Ireland at Hampden Park on September 24, 2022. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
The Scotland international has been plying his trade in the big time for several years now and carries with him a wealth of experience. However, at 29-years-old and with a sketchy injury record to boot, it wouldn’t be the first name on many of the lips of Celtic supporters. Added into this is his not so insignificant wage packet of a reputed £60K per-week and it seems mighty fanciful.
It’s clear that Newcastle wouldn’t be looking for a major transfer fee, due to them looking to trim their own wage bill after a summer of spending. Brendan Rodgers is believed to be looking at his options regarding the wide attacking positions after the £25m sale of Jota.
Scott Sinclair scores the winner on his Celtic debut at Tynecastle in August 2016. Credit: AP
With Ryan Fraser there are some similarities with Brendan Rodgers bringing in to Celtic Scotty Sinclair, an experienced winger from English football back in 2016. Sinclair was at a crossroads in his career at that time and the move to Celtic certainly worked out brilliantly for both the player and the club.
Maybe Rodgers will be tempted to repeat the same trick with Fraser?
Photo IMAGO -Elfsborg’s Gustaf Lagerbielke during the Allsvenskan football match between Elfsborg and IFK Göteborg on July 16, 2023 in Boras, Sweden. Photo JÖRGEN JARNBERGER
It looks like Swedish central defender Gustaf Lagerbielke could be in line to make his switch from Elfsborg to Celtic Park too in the next 48 hours. Rodgers said after the Aberdeen game on Sunday that he expected movement on Carl Starfelt’s replacement this week and now Gannon has revealed that it will be in the next two days pending a medical and paperwork competition.
Nantes’ French midfielder Quentin Merlin (C) and Nantes’ players celebrate during the trophy ceremony at the end the French Cup final football match between OGC Nice and FC Nantes at the Stade de France, in Saint-Denis, on the outskirts of Paris, on May 7, 2022. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images)
News has emerged late yesterday afternoon that Celtic are taking an interest in Nantes defender, Quentin Merlin. The man who can play as a standard left-back or wing-back if required is thought to be giving Mark Lawwell and co food for thought as we head into the final couple of weeks of this year’s summer transfer window.
According to Emmanuel Merceron, the Bhoys are looking at the player and are weighing up whether to make an approach or not, with the Ligue 1 club believed to be looking for upwards of £7 million for his services, should any club wish to solidify interest in the Frenchman.
It would be a hefty outlay for a fullback, but if Brendan Rodgers feels Merlin could improve his starting XI then he will spend the cash. The Irishman’s stated before he would spend money on the right player if the situation arose in the future. That seemed to be one of his pet gripes in his last spell; not being allowed to spend his transfer budget to his own specification.
There could be a change coming very soon if this latest report is anything to go by.
Paul Gillespie
Meanwhile, check out Matt Corr speaking to the one and only Martin O’Neill on The Celtic Star Podcast…
