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Window Shopping – The Celtic Star’s Digital Director of Football’s Summer Targets

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SOMETHING a little bit different this morning. Rab McNab took up our offer of writing for The Celtic Star and had the idea of being our Digital Director of Football, looking at player retention, those who should be released and of course the transfer targets on his shopping list for the summer window. It’s a fascinating read, hope you all enjoy it. And feedback is welcome, please email editor@thecelticstar.co.uk if you have something to say about this or any other article on the site or if you fancy getting involved and joining our team of Celtic writers.

OUR DIGITAL DIRECTOR OF FOOTBALL – RAB McNAB

As football, and our charge for 9-in-a-row, are on hold in these uncertain and strange times, we can allow ourselves a chance to drift into the future and speculate what Celtic’s 10-in-a-row squad will look like.

Who goes? Who stays? Who comes in? And who will be big Pedro Berlusconi’s big summer sale?

SHOULD THEY STAY OR SHOULD THEY GO?

Big decisions to be made within the current squad. Loan players to full time deals, players out of contract and out on loan who need to be moved on. Then Pedro’s big sell deal.

Of all the players on loan the biggest priority is surely tying up a deal for big Fraser Forster. With Craig Gordon out of contract, it frees up more money for the kitty to get the deal done. As I don’t believe big money will be spent on Moi Elyounoussi as well, then an alternative needs sourced to replace him. Maybe another loan for Arzani will suffice with Johnston and Shved stepping up to the challenge?

I reckon it’s time to move on Bauer, Hayes, Miller, Benyu, Kouassi and Ralston, and look at the position of Gutman and Perez. Are they good enough and is there an issue obtaining a work permit for them. The injury prone Jozo Simunovic , out of contract 2021, and the hapless Boli Bolingoli should be sold to get some more funds in, for quality not quantity. On the subject of sale, who is this year’s BIG MONEY mover, it wouldn’t be any surprise to see one or more from Ajer, Ntcham, Rogic and Edouard sold to help with big Pedro’s bonus.

WELCOME TO PARADISE

So who is out there to improve the squad, offer value for money and fit Pedros signing model.

GOALKEEPER

ALBAN LAFONT, 21, FC Nantes on loan from Fiorentina. At 6ft 3 a big lad with a big reputation whose overall game makes him a contender for shortlists all over Europe. Same age bracket as Dembele and Edouard who have both done alright at the club.

JONAS OMlIN, 26, FC Basel. His age obviously brings more experience and a strong game to the table. At 6ft 2 another decent sized guy who may be similar to Gordon, aggression attacking crosses not the best but then again not many keepers come off their line through bodies nowadays.

PAUL BERNARDONI, 23 April, on loan from Bordeaux to Nimes. Another 6ft 2 lad who is similar in experience to young Lafont though has had a hard season due to his loan club but its vital 1st team game time.

RIGHT BACK

DEYOVAISIO ZEEFUIK, 22, Groningen. Signed from Ajax and his career is on the rise, being a regular in the first team since moving. A club who have a reputation for youth getting their chance and where we signed a certain VVD from.

SEAN KLAIBER, 25, FC Utrecht. An experienced option from another unfashionable club who can play RB or RWB in 5 formation. Excellent defensively and offensively who would offer experience AND value for money.

Owen Wijndal

LEFT BACK

OWEN WIJNDAL, 20, AZ Alkmaar. A young lad with a growing reputation who will go for BIG money in his career. Take the risk on spending a bit more than you would like for his age etc as he will pay it back Tierney style. A problem position with one LB not great defending and the other not got confidence/ability to go past people.

BIRGER MELING, 25, Rosenberg. The great enigma of the past couple of windows who we have seen at close quarters recently, who CAN do what we are looking for on the left side. Contract expires December 2020 which surely makes him a very attractive option financially.

Thilo Kehrer

RIGHT CENTRE BACK

JORGE MERE, 22, FC Koln. Young Spaniard who moved to Germany from Gijon 2 seasons ago. A centre back who is a strong defender 1st, determined, aggressive and brave.

THILO KEHRER, 23, PSG. A young German who signed from Schalke in 2018 for big money. Capped 7 times at senior German squad and through the age groups so a young player who would benefit from more first team games from a club we have done business with before.

OUMAR SOLET, 20, Lyon. Another young man from the next generation of French stars where we know Dembele and Edouard first hand. Unfortunately an ACL injury means anyone looking at the boy will have to wait until Jan 2021 fitness dependent.

LEFT CENTRE BACK
MALANG SARR, 21, Nice. And the French conveyor belt rolls off another potential star who is showing all the attributes to go to the very top in the game. Being a lefty gives him a chance to add more balance to a centre back partnership.
MARCOS SENISI, 23 May, Feyenoord. Argentinian signed from San Lorenzo in the summer 2019 window. A football playing, tough, left footed centre half so offers all you are looking for in a modern defender.
MOUSSA NIAKHATE, 24, Mainz 05. French lad, signed from Metz in 2018. A reputation as a BIG no nonsense defender, son of BOBO is a fair comparison I’m led to believe.
DEFENSIVE MIDFIELD
TEUN KOOPMEINERS, 22, AZ Alkmaar. If you want to play the position properly then you sign players who play it and this boy is currently one of the best in Europe and a natural successor to Broony. MY No 1 signing target.
RENATO TAPIA, 24, Feyenoord. 53 times capped Peruvian and another who plays this position well. If playing two holding midfielders then here they are and let McGregor etc get forward.

RIGHT MIDFIELD
CALVIN STENGS, 21, AZ Alkmaar. Another Dutch lad who will go for big money sooner rather than later. Excellent technical ability and chips in with goals and assists as well.
GYRANO KERK, 24, FC Utrecht. A name that was linked with the club late in the Jan window. Another wide player who chips in with his fair share of goals and assists. Money wise is probably more affordable than Stengs.
LEFT MIDFIELD
JAVAIRO DILROSUN, 21, Hertha Berlin. A Dutch lad who joined from Man City in 2018. Will come as no surprise that the boy has excellent technical ability and flair, the question would be affordability against Moi.
OUSSAMA IDRISSI, 24, AZ Alkmaar. Dutch born Morrocan whose performances mean his value is rising, another whose ability offers an alternative to Moi
CENTRE FORWARD
BRUNO PETKOVIC, 25, Dinamo Zagreb. At 6ft 3 offers something different to what is in the squad at present. I always felt a Hartson/Sutton type striker brings another dimension to style of play and this guy offers that to a tee.
ROBIN QUAISON, 26, Mainz 05. Another slightly more physical player than we currently have but also has some pace so again can prove a real handful for defenders.
If I was the Celtic  DoF or whatever the position title is for dealing with our transfers then before taking into account selling one of the big assets I would be looking to realistically add Forster full time. Wijndal or Meling, Senesi, Koopmeiners or Tapia, Stengs or Kerk, Dilrosun or Idrissi and Petkovic or Quaison. If deadwood is moved on and at least one of assets is sold then the above should be the minimum.
HAIL HAIL 
Rab McNab

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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

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