Silly season has definitely arrived in Scotland, despite the lack of money for Glasgow’s big two. The last week or so has seen several players linked with the Old Firm, particularly Celtic. It does seem rather strange, but it’s a sign that the Scottish media are getting rather desperate to fill their back pages.
To start with, Celtic and Rangers don’t have a manager. Yes, Walter Smith is reported to be still undecided whether or not he will remain at Ibrox – depending on what happens with regards to his budget for next term – but he is out of contract and has not indicated, as of yet, that he will stay on.
Celtic, as well, are manager-less, and they need to decide whether Neil Lennon is capable of taking on the job. It is likely he will be handed the reigns, not as a reward of his qualities as a coach or manager, but because there are no decent alternatives which remain within the budget.
So despite the lack of a manager on either side, every day we hear of more washed-up players plying their trade in the English Premiership ready to make their move across the border.
Sol Campbell and Jimmy Bullard are the latest names to be linked with Celtic. If their Chief Executive Peter Lawwell feels this is the correct route to go down for his club, good luck.
Bullard is reported to be on over £40K a week, with a Scottish Newspaper claiming the deal will be a season long loan one. It is highly doubtful that Hull will be letting one of their prize assets leave for a year without any kind of transfer fee.
If true, however, Celtic will need to pay a player with a history of injury problems vast sums of money for a year. This is without the likelihood of Champions League revenue.
Sol Campbell is another funny one. It wouldn’t surprise anyone to see him make the move north, after all he did sign for Notts County. However, again, his wages must be astronomical, and it is unlikely the hoops could afford to pay him on even half his current salary.
Celtic have been down this road before, mainly during the first two years of Gordon Strachan’s tenure. They made the likes of Thomas Gravesen, Jiri Jarosik, Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink and Bobo Balde incredibly wealthy for very little in return.
It got them no-where, and their Champions League and SPL success was more down to the cheaper alternatives, such as Scott Mcdonald, Barry Robson and Aiden McGeady.
A more realistic acquisition the Celtic Park club could make – and one they have supposedly held talks with – is Steven Reid. The former Blackburn player is out of contract and won’t demand a high salary. However, just because he is an Irish internationalist, it will not alone appease the supporters. They want some direction within their club. Not some has-beens, Asians or Irishmen to turn up telling them of their love for the club, just to sell some shirts.
The Scottish media will, no doubt, link some World Cup superstars to the SPL, ignoring the fact that the league’s riches are cleaned out. Sad times, indeed.
Also read: Transfer Lists
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