Sad reality: Pundit harshly criticizes the Celtic Board

• Celtic board’s conservatism is stifling the club.
• Need for a new strategy.
• Fans turning into greater and more disgruntled.

Stephen McGowan, a revered soccer journalist, has supplied a searing critique of Celtic’s strategy, each in phrases of their Champions League marketing campaign and switch dealings. This analysis emerges amidst developing discontent among supporters related to the club’s direction.

Celtic’s performance in the Champions League has been lacklustre, with the team securing only one point from five matches. The squad’s showing in the prestigious tournament has left fans questioning the club’s strategic direction. This sentiment was once compounded with the aid of the recent Annual General Meeting (AGM), where self-congratulatory tones from membership officers contrasted sharply with the team’s underwhelming results.

The club’s switch method has additionally come beneath fire. Despite the high-profile sale of Jota for £25 million, inadequate replacements and an outsized squad have now not translated into success on the field. McGowan points out that other golf equipment with fewer resources, such as Feyenoord, Copenhagen, and Shakhtar Donetsk, have outperformed Celtic in the Champions League, highlighting a hole in fantastic player improvement and trading.

Celtic’s conservative fiscal strategy has been identified as a key issue. Despite generating record revenues, the club’s spending on player acquisition is considered as inadequate.

This conservatism is believed to limit the team’s attainable in European competitions. McGowan suggests that Celtic’s ambitions would possibly be overly focused on domestic success in opposition to Rangers and minimal progress in the Champions League, besides a sizable commitment to elevating the team’s European performance. We can’t disagree,

McGowan’s critique of Celtic and the board is spot on. The fear of failure and the lack of any type of chance makes Europe Groundhog Day for the fans. They don’t want to splurge and go outdoor their comfort quarter for worry of dropping any floor domestically, at some point you need to seem to be at the larger picture.

Brendan Rodgers is favored to begin the quality quest in well-known territory and has a Celtic transfer trick up his sleeve

The Premiership champions have been knocked out of Europe and the boss has been left calling for quality.

Brendan Rodgers has been tipped to wheel out a tried and tested signing method this January in a return to how he kicked his first Celtic reign off.

The Irishman has made a plea for additional exceptional after a 2-0 defeat to Lazio ended their Champions League campaign at the crew stage again. Celtic have now not gained in 15 matches at Europe’s top table and presently take a seat with one point in Group E ahead of the ultimate matchday at domestic to Feyenoord.

Fans have pleaded with the Parkhead board to unencumber some of the money in the financial institution to signal ready-made players for Rodgers to work with, instead of gamers for the future. And former midfielder Simon Donnelly sees arrivals in the mould of Scott Sinclair perhaps coming in. He advised SSB: “Brendan has touched on it himself, high-quality clever they are not at that Champions League level. That is honest for every body to say. You have to provide him the next two transfer windows.

“I can only sit right here and speculate about the signings for the summer. Was the manner of a lot of them already there when Brendan came back on board again?

“I look lower back again to the first time he was here when he signed guys like Scott Sinclair, due to the fact it used to be a subject he knew and they came and had a huge impact. I expected him to carry one or two guys like that from working in the Premier League.

“Maybe that is the place he goes to seem to be at for this transfer window. Time will inform however he is had to work with the guys that are there just now. There’s no assurance to it. I just thought with him coming lower back that would be a discipline he’d look at”

Lazio supporters engage in horrific anti-Irish racism

Celtic had been on a hiding to nothing in Rome tonight having to play well previous his top James Forrest in a do or die recreation in Rome.

The bhoys had a recreation sketch now not to go full throttle and manage the sport until they could go try to win it. As quickly as they tried to go for it, they were punished through super-sub Ciro Immobile. Celtic are out of Europe till subsequent season and we have nobody to blame but ourselves.

Away from the pitch though, Lazio fans held up a banner earlier than the sport telling Celtic fans to go home because the famine used to be over. This is a reference to the Irish potato famine and telling Celtic, a generally catholic fan base to go home to Ireland.

Given UEFA hand out fines for simply about anything, we have to trust they’re about to deliver down the hammer on Lazio for the inflammatory banner.

UEFA is an corporation that as soon as fined Celtic for waving Palestine flags, so when it comes to blatant anti-Irish racism, truly they will take severe motion towards the Italian side.

Celtic fans have been also handled terribly getting into the stadium on the night with assessments and unhelpful police and stewards delaying the procedure of getting into the game. We’ll have extra on that later.

‘We know,’ Journalist referring to Spurs’ pursuit of a ‘world-class’ Celtic’s 28-year-old player

Another day, every other switch story surrounding one of Celtic’s fine players.

If it’s not Matt O’Riley being tipped for a large move it’s either Reo Hatate or Kyogo Furuhashi. In a way, it’s a praise to Celtic and the players that their performances are attracting the likes of Spurs and Manchester United to their players.

But it appears that it is Spurs that are nevertheless looking at Celtic’s 28-year-old striker, Kyogo, as Ange Postecoglou looks to locate a alternative for Harry Kane.

Transfer specialist, Dean Jones, was once asked if he thought Postecoglou is probably to make a go for the ‘world-class‘ striker and admitted that a January move is unlikely.

Jones said [GiveMeSport], “I don’t think so, now not in the instant future. I suppose that’ll be tough for Tottenham to do in January. We know he is a participant they’ve had their eye on, however Celtic don’t favor to lose him.

“So, I suppose the possibility round that one halfway thru the season will be unlikely.

“From a Celtic point of view, they’ll proceed to be entirely targeted on the reality that he’s staying at the club, and they won’t worry about it.”

Whilst Kyogo is no Harry Kane, the Japanese global has precisely the qualities that Ange Postecoglou looks for in a striker.

Quick, agile and lethal in front of goal, the Celtic striker would be a brilliant signing for any team in the English Premier League.

62 desires in view that his £4.6m pass from Vissel Kobe has made Kyogo simply integral for Celtic over the past two seasons.

However, after signing a new five-year deal in the summer, anybody wishing to sign Kyogo will need to provide silly money to tempt Celtic into even taking into consideration letting their talisman depart the club every time in the close to future.

Reporter: Celtic may now regret taking the “risk” of allowing sensation to leave Parkhead

Celtic have considered Karamoko Dembele making an have an effect on at Blackpool much less than 18 months after sanctioning his exit

HIGHLIGHTS

•  Celtic have watched on as Karamoko Dembele has started out to find his ft in senior football whilst on mortgage with League One side Blackpool.
•  The reigning Scottish Premiership champions chose to release the winger at the cease of his contract in summer time 2022.
•  Blackpool chief Neil Critchley has puzzled Celtic’s decision to not give Dembele greater opportunities after impressing at adolescence level.

Celtic took a ‘risk’ through permitting Karamoko Dembele to leave Parkhead closing year, and journalist Dean Jones has advised GIVEMESPORT that Bhoys boss Brendan Rodgers may want to quit up regretting the choice for a key reason.

Having burst onto the scene with the reigning Scottish Premiership champions, the winger is now plying his change with League One side Blackpool after joining on a season-long mortgage from French outfit Brest in a deal which Tangerines chief Neil Critchley admitted he was ‘excited’ to complete during the remaining hours of the summer season switch window.

Dembele has made a promising begin to his spell at Bloomfield Road, racking up three goals and as many assists in his first 14 appearances before making the time out to high-flying Portsmouth on Saturday.

Dembele struggled to meet expectations

Dembele was rewarded with his first professional contract when making waves at Celtic at the age of 15, in accordance to The Guardian, with him at once setting himself a goal of turning into a first-team ordinary in the course of Rodgers’ preliminary spell at the Glasgow giants’ helm.

But the former England under-18 global determined it challenging to impenetrable regular recreation time at senior level and only went on to make 10 appearances before shifting onto pastures new when his deal used to be now not renewed in 2022.

Blackpool chief Critchley has referred to as Celtic into question for refusing to hand Dembele more opportunities to impress at some point of his time at Parkhead, claiming he would have profited from going out on loan if his path to normal minutes was going to continuously be blocked.

How Karamoko Dembele prices compared to his Blackpool teammates in League One this season

But, having been named by way of French newspaper L’Equipe as one of the six ‘outstanding young gamers set to revolutionise the game’, the wide-man also struggled to make an have an effect on when he joined Brest, where he signed a four-year contract after walking away from Scotland.

Dembele was once constrained to just 252 minutes of action and failed to register a single intention contribution before heading to Blackpool in a bid to rediscover the structure which had resulted in him being earmarked as one of the game’s most interesting up-and-coming talents.

Dean Jones update – Karamoko Dembele

Jones believes Celtic took a gamble through allowing Dembele to stroll away as a free agent as he had already shown, whilst coming via the ranks, that he is capable of inflicting limitless problems for defenders.

Although the reporter has doubts over whether the Bhoys are presently regretting their choice to launch the 20-year-old, who made his under-20 debut at the age of simply 13, he feels an magnificent marketing campaign on Blackpool’s books might also result in Rodgers feeling a key mistake was made whilst Ange Postecoglou used to be at the helm.

Jones informed GIVEMESPORT:

“It was once difficult for Celtic. When you’ve got obtained a player of that first-class that has had that pedigree from such a young age, you’re taking a threat when you sincerely let them leave. I suppose that used to be the case with Celtic.

“They’d given him opportunities and viewed what they’d seen. They in the end felt that, in the on the spot to close to future, he wasn’t going to have the affect on their membership that used to be going to be needed.

“He has moved on and now long past to Blackpool after making any other move. He’s beginning to exhibit the skills that we recognize he is received deep down, so let’s see how he progresses over the subsequent yr at this stage.

“I do not suppose you should say that Celtic would have regrets, however this is a participant who is so talented that it would not take too much over the direction of a season to make Celtic possibly look again on the past and assume they need to have held onto him.”

Tilio open to leaving Parkhead amid struggles

Marco Tilio is willing to seal a quickfire exit from Celtic when the switch window reopens in January, according to the Daily Record, if his sport time does not expand earlier than the transfer window opens for business.

The document suggests the 22-year-old, who completed a £1.5million switch from Melbourne City during the summer, is open to heading out on loan after growing pissed off at his lack of possibilities in his new surroundings.

Although switch insider Jones these days informed GIVEMESPORT that he anticipated Tilio to prove himself to be a ‘really exciting’ addition to the squad as Celtic went in search of any other Scottish Premiership title, he is still ready to make his debut after injury troubles have robbed him of the risk to stake a claim and work his way into the forefront of Rodgers’ plans.

But the winger has formerly proven that he is succesful of being a serious threat in the final 1/3 of the pitch as he has racked up forty one goal contributions in his homeland while with Melbourne and Sydney FC.

Tilio’s search for ordinary game time will have additionally long past up a notch as he continued his return to full health by coming off the bench for the remaining degrees as the Australia under-23 facet beat Qatar during the worldwide break.

‘He will leave’: Former Celtic star believes he will depart the club in 2024

Former Celtic defender Mark Wilson fears that this will be Matt O’Riley’s last season at the Scottish Premiership giants with the Denmark global going from energy to energy beneath Brendan Rodgers.

Celtic rejected an ambitious £10 million bid from Leeds United at the end of the summer season (The Sun). And, in truth, you’d be fortunate to get even Matt O’Riley’s weaker proper leg for that these days.

Since Leeds’ offer came and went, the former Fulham teenager has emerge as a full worldwide with Denmark, has brought desires to his game, and is making a splash on the Champions League stage too with a ‘beautiful’ assist against Spanish giants Atletico Madrid the apparent standout.

Following a season of such progress, Wilson fears that O’Riley is sure to emerge as the modern day in a sequence of big-money Celtic departures.

Is Matt O’Riley’s time at Celtic coming to an end?

“I suppose there is a precise hazard that he will go,” Wilson, a three-time Scottish Premiership champion between 2006 and 2008, tells the Daily Record.

“I say that as Celtic knocked lower back a big bid this summer. £10 million. Now, he’s a full international. And, on the lower back of the six months he’s had from summer season to now, you see him getting better.

“I simply assume anyone will recognise that. I assume people will already have recognized that. It will take a large bid and I assume it will be a lot of money. But my worry is Matt O’Riley won’t be at Celtic at the begin of next season.”

Interest from Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham

At £1.5 million from third-tier MK Dons, O’Riley is one of Celtic’s great pound-for-pound signings in the cutting-edge era. And that is saying something given that Moussa Dembele, Victor Wanyama and Virgil van Dijk all handed through Parkhead.

The elegant, left-footed playmaker has six desires and seven assists already this term. A ‘goal contribution’ each and every 1.3 video games under Rodgers.

Clubs the dimension of Arsenal, Manchester United and Newcastle have all been linked with O’Riley at quite a number points. According to The Sun, there is a threat that the London-born Dane could eventually be reunited with former Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham Hotspur too.

Disaster for the former £5 million Celtic player, only 37 minutes have passed since the Hoops departed

When Albian Ajeti touched down in Turkey on the final day of the summer time transfer window, the former Celtic striker would have strolled off the aircraft with a renewed feel of optimism and a ravenous urge for food for a fresh start.

It had been a lengthy time, after all, since Albian Ajeti was banging in the goals at Basel. The striker flopped at West Ham United and didn’t precisely fare much better at Celtic either, while a loan spell at Sturm Graz proved in a similar way underwhelming.

Celtic recouped simply £500,000 worth of their £5 million investment when Ajeti put pen to paper with Turkish Super Lig outfit Gazientep at the begin of September (Sky Sports). It is testament to how things have gone for the luckless striker in Turkey, however, that Celtic show up to have got the higher of that late-summer deal as matters stand.

Albian Ajeti struggling after Celtic exit

Ajeti has played solely 37 of a plausible 680 minutes so far at Gazientep. A intention on his debut in opposition to Istanbulspor is as suitable as things have gotten so far. That early optimism hastily changed by using a familiar, déjà vu inducing sense of frustration.

Ajeti has overlooked Gazientep’s closing 4 video games with a muscle tear. The injury curse which wrecked his hopes of a everlasting move to Sturm Graz following him to the furthest reaches of Europe.

Injured again

“I had a wonderful, superb time,” Ajeti told Laola1 a few weeks ago, a bittersweet tang to his tone. “I sincerely enjoyed it, I met first-rate human beings and was once capable to work with amazing human beings – from the teaching team to the employees, the board, to the teammates and fans.

“It was once fun.

“The solely component that wasn’t as fun have been the injuries I stored having,” he adds with a sigh. “Unfortunately, I couldn’t keep away from them.”

Try as he might, Ajeti simply cannot get away the health issues which continue to canine his once-promising career.

John Hartson plays the Celtic blame game in the Green Brigade defense after the AGM lightning rod sparks ‘singled out’ dread

The Welshman has pointed the finger at other clubs amid fears the Hoops are being handled unfairly.

Celtic hero John Hartson has set up a defence for the Green Brigade following the club’s AGM.

The Celtic ultras are at loggerheads with Parkhead chiefs after the membership introduced that every body who belonged to the team – round 2 hundred human beings – had their season tickets suspended for the foreseeable future. They stated it was due to an “increasingly serious escalation in unacceptable behaviours and non-compliance with applicable regulations.”

Fingers have been pointed at the controversial fan group for the club racking up several UEFA sanctions over the years – but it remained a hot subject matter at the AGM with any point out of the Green Brigade being met with a combine of cheering and booing from the gathered crowd. But Celtic hero Hartson fears that both the club and supporters have been “singled out” with supporters of other side being branded “no angels.”

He instructed Go Radio: “It looks like in a way that they are singling Celtic and the Green Brigade out. Yes, they have acquired their faults.

“Yes, they have price Celtic a lot of money over the years in fines but additionally you have to appear at different golf equipment – and I hope they are – due to the fact all the golf equipment will have exact eggs and awful eggs. In phrases of what they sing, how they act; I played in Scotland for 5 years and I have been at away grounds and heard what they say and what they are chanting.

“I simply hope that Celtic are no longer the only membership being regarded at. I hope it is looked at across the board as other golf equipment fans are no angels either.”

Jim Goodwin admits to making the ‘worst error’ at Celtic before leaving.

Jim Goodwin has published his “biggest mistake” at Celtic as a participant came when he provided to play right-back on his debut.

The Dundee United boss made his solely appearance for Celtic beneath Kenny Dalglish back in 2000.

Goodwin – who before managed Aberdeen, St Mirren and Alloa – has revealed he supplied to fill in at full-back on his debut as he allowed John Kennedy to play in central defence.

The League Cup winner used to be in line to play centrally himself in the healthy in opposition to Dundee United however offered to change function with Kennedy to help his team-mate.

However, Goodwin reckons his strive to exhibit a “good attitude” came again to “bite him on the a***” as Kennedy went on to play in addition suits for Celtic and transition into a teaching function at the club following his playing career.

Discussing his debut on Open Goal, Goodwin commented: “When John Barnes got the sack then Kenny Dalglish and Tommy [Burns] had taken over simply on a caretaker role.

“And listen, they had been giving out debuts like packets of crisps at that time.

“Guys like myself and one or two others had been given that danger in the ultimate sport of the season.”

And on his role change provide that backfired, Goodwin explained: “I started out the sport and one of the mistakes I made in the build-up to that game that I haven’t certainly spoke about a outstanding deal however we were shaping up and John Kennedy was once supposed to play right back.

“I do not understand if he will have in mind it but he was once like a duck out of water taking part in at proper lower back and I used to be taking part in at proper centre-half which used to be my position coming via the system.

“And I had offered to play right returned rather because Kendo didn’t favor to do it and I thought, ‘I don’t idea taking part in there’.

“That was probable my biggest mistake. He was once gorgeous at centre-half and I was once bang average at centre-half! I went off with cramp after about seventy five minutes because I was walking up and down the line and I wasn’t used to doing that!”

The Dundee United boss joked: “Listen, I would by no means have been the Celtic centre-half for 20 years! I said to Tommy, I said, ‘If he would not desire to play there I don’t idea taking part in there’.

“I thinking I used to be doing a exact issue and displaying a properly mindset to the manager however it got here again to chew me on the a*** due to the fact Kendo went on to play a hell of a lot of games at centre-half!”

‘Bad, bad man,’ The National media react to the current international performance of the 25-year-old Celtic player

Celtic’s players are starting to have a fantastic international week as the fixtures pile up.

Callum McGregor was crucial in Scotland’s 2-2 draw with Georgia on Thursday night, and TBR Celtic reported on Luis Palma’s 2-0 win against Mexico.

Cameron Carter-Vickers is the next in line. The 25-year-old Celtic defender started for the USMT in their 2-0 win over Trinidad and Tobago, and if the ratings from the US media are any indication, the Celtic defender has also impressed.

Cameron Carter-Vickers is a great ambassador for Celtic in America.

The’man mountain’ of a defender looked great as he helped the USA preserve a clean sheet, and it appears that the Celtic stopper has wowed the media.

Goal: (7/10) Provided physical presence in the few instances that T&T did go forward, which were few and far between.

ESPN’s review: “7 — Few complaints about the central defender that worked well with Tim Ream while providing crucial defensive interventions.”

“7” MLS Soccer Carter-Vickers, who started alongside Ream, had nothing to complain about as he and the defense recorded a clean sheet.”

Cameron Carter-Vickers: 8 — NBC Sports The Celtics’ running back is a bad, bad man. At the age of 25, he is clearly approaching his prime.”

Carter-Vickers is an important first-team member for Celtic.

Celtic’s £6 million signing from Tottenham Hotspur has been outstanding thus far this season. With the exception of his gaffe against Lazio, the US defender has been dominant in the Hoops backline.

Carter-Vickers, who has formed a combination with the excellent Liam Scales, seems just as strong this season as he did the previous two seasons with Carl Starfelt, averaging a 7.3 in the Scottish Premiership according to football ratings site SofaScore.

He has previously impressed at the international level. His return to US play in October had been widely anticipated, with the media claiming that he would bring’stability’ to what seems to be a frail backline.

Carter-Vickers’ next match is a return trip to Trinidad on November 21st, where Celtic fans will be praying for another strong performance and an injury-free CCV.

Another Celtic star qualifies for EURO 2024, which might be significant for the Bhoys’ form

After Scotland’s authentic qualification for next year’s European Championships booked a area for Callum McGregor and the rest of the Celtic contingent in the Scottish squad, every other Bhoys player may want to be heading to the principal tournament.

Matt O’Riley was on the bench for Denmark as they beat Slovenia 2-1 on Friday night, confirming their spot at the finals in Germany next summer.

O’Riley was a late addition to the Danish squad after missing out on the initial announcement but has now been protected in manager Kasper Hjulmand’s group in two consecutive global windows, giving the midfielder real hope of making a similarly push into his plans.

There’s even a threat he makes his debut for the country over the coming days, with Denmark taking part in away to Northern Ireland in a match that can now be used for experimentation with qualification secured.

Celtic should benefit from brought O’Riley motivation

O’Riley has already been in great shape for Celtic this season. He’s scored six dreams and assisted seven instances when you consider that Brendan Rodgers arrived at the club, marking him out as one of the Bhoys’ most superb performers this season.

High-profile pundits such as Chris Sutton are calling him the pleasant participant in Scotland right now. Meanwhile, journalist Fabrizio Romano reckons he’s now well worth over £25m in the transfer market.

Now, with the introduced motivation of potentially booking a ticket to his first-ever global tournament, we could see even more from O’Riley over the coming weeks and months.

It would be outstanding to see Hjulmand provide O’Riley a debut in Belfast on Monday night and mild a fire below the midfielder to prove himself in addition at membership level.

A hungry and ruthless O’Riley can be a terror for opposition defences at domestic and abroad. We could well see the quality of him from this factor onwards and that’s an thrilling thought.

Raging Rangers fan pulls pyro panic button over ‘fine’ as Celtic hero erupts into spiky on air ‘killjoys’ defence

Rangers followers display for the duration of the go to to Dens Park has sparked issues internal the SPFL.

Irked Mark Wilson has insisted that the SPFL are not being “killjoys” with the aid of searching to cast off pyrotechnics from the stands.

It came as the former Celtic defender fielded issues that the Rangers will be hit with an SPFL sanction following the controversial display in the stands against Dundee. The players were ordered to go away the pitch through ref Kevin Clancy just two minutes into the Scottish Premiership when a surprising show of pyro from the Rangers fans compelled a fire alarm to go off.

Police Scotland and the Scottish Government have expressed issues over the event and Dundee have slammed the moves of the away support. This sparked problem from Clyde 1 Superscoreboard caller Billy as he hit out at the pyro declaring: “As a Rangers fan I was disgusted with the aid of it. All the delays, and I know there is going to be a fine coming for Rangers.”

Host Gordon Duncan chimed in: “I’m definitely now not positive there will be. The SPFL handle these matters a bit otherwise to UEFA.”

That sparked a heated rant from former Hoops defender, stating: ‘There is a proper safety situation here for supporters. Never thought the players, it is horrific sufficient when you are disrupting them and your focal point on getting a fantastic outcome, however what about the followers that don’t have flares?

“Does anybody ever assume about them being surrounded through the ones who managed to light these things up? There is a true protection problem – it is not due to the fact the SFA and SPFL choose to be killjoys. It’s due to the fact the protection officers don’t think there is a secure way of conducting it.”

Fans mild up the Bob Shankly stand with pyro at some stage in the cinch Premiership healthy between Dundee and Rangers at The Scot Foam Stadium at Dens Park on Wednesday night

Duncan then put it to Wilson that they might also need to come up with a protected way of allowing fans to use the general pyro: “How do you do that with some thing that incorporates heat? I’m no longer an expert.

“In my previous position I did some work with Police Scotland and they have enlightened me to some of the issues. I get that it appears colourful – however when it is to the detriment of your own fans definitely there has received to be some common sense. Are they in England? The largest league in the world? Do we need them?”

Record Sport understands that any sanctions for Rangers show up not likely as golf equipment have previously now not been punished if in a position to show they had taken reasonable precautions.

Who exactly is Kanji Okunuki? Celtic’s scouting subject is in the spotlight after Hearts completed summer research on Japanese sensation

Brendan Rodgers wishes reinforcements in January and the champions have reportedly been observing the Nurnberg attacker.

It should come as no shock that Celtic have been linked with any other Japanese talent.

The Hoops have reportedly been scouting Kanji Okunuki “intensively” over the final few weeks after playing massive success plundering the Japanese participant market below Ange Postecoglou. Kyogo is the primary man whilst compatriots Reo Hatate and Daizen Maeda are key participants of the squad, with Brendan Rodgers persevering with to rely heavily on them notwithstanding a change in style when you consider that the Aussie’s departure. Tomoki Iwata stays on the fringes, however scored his first intention for the membership towards Hearts remaining month and looks like he has something to offer.

Yuki Kobayashi looks like he should be on his way out, failing to be quoted even all through a central defensive harm crisis, solely named on the bench once this season. Yosuke ideguchi has grow to be something of a forgotten man out on loan at Avispa Fukuoka again in Japan, although nonetheless has over two years left to run on his Celtic contract.

Okunuki ought to be the cutting-edge Japanese import to swell the ranks. But who is he and what would he add? Record Sport takes a nearer look.

Who is Kanji Okunuki?

The 24-year-old was once born in Saitama and advanced thru the youth ranks with local membership Omiya Ardija earlier than graduating to the pinnacle team in January 2018. 14 goals in almost 100 appearances caught the interest of Gornik Zabrze of Poland. He joined the Ekstraklasa membership on a season-long mortgage in August 2022, which blanketed an choice to make the deal permanent.

However, that wasn’t taken up and Okunuki joined Nurnberg ultimate summer. He’s scored four goals in 15 appearances for the Bundesliga two outfit and received his first call up to the Japan squad last month, however is yet to make his debut for the Samurai Blue.

What type of player is he?

Okunuki is right footed but performs on the left. With Liel Abada out injured and Yang set to join Oh in the South Korea squad for the Asian Cup, that ought to come in handy. He can also operate in the No 10 position and as a 2d striker, even though it is a No. 9 Brendan Rodgers virtually wants with Kyogo additionally set to be away with his country.

With nearly four possession recoveries in the opposition’s 1/2 per game, Okunuki would show up to suit Celtic’s urgent style, even if it’s no longer as extreme as it was once under Ange. He has two assists this season, though that quantity would be expected to go up playing in a crew like eltic’s, which dominates most video games and create extra chances.

Haven’t we heard his name before?

Yes, he was closely linked with Hearts last summer time before making the move to Germany. The Jambos had been in the market for a 2d striker or attacking midfielder and Okunuki healthy the invoice after Yutaro Oda impressed after an preliminary settling in period. However, a quoted price of £400,000 made him an luxurious proposition for the Tynecastle club and after an initial enquiry, there was no concrete approach, which allowed Nurnberg to get their man.

That kind of charge would not have been an difficulty for Celtic. However, Nurnberg’s willingness to let him depart and what kind of rate they would be looking for remains to be seen.

Conor McGregor praises the Green Brigade tifo as he unveils Celtic plans

Conor McGregor has said that he hopes to visit Celtic Park one day.

The UFC fighter used to social media to applaud a fan display put on by the Green Brigade several years ago as part of an online Q&A.

McGregor is a big Celtic fan, and he hasn’t been shy about admitting it.

During Kierney’s first stint under Brendan Rodgers, he formed a strong friendship with him.

This is incredible! Hopefully one day for sure! https://t.co/mpIDS40Val

— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) November 15, 2023

His fellow Celtic fans have also been major followers of the MMA fighter.

McGregor was mentioned in a banner raised by the Green Brigade ahead of Celtic’s 5-0 triumph against Astana in Champions League qualifying.

His catchphrase, which he employed after defeating Diego Brandao in 2014, was “We’re not here to take part, we’re here to take over!”

He earlier stated about the banner, “Celtic Football Club STAND UP!!!” This is what die-hard fan support looks like! What an amazing sight! What a group! Thank you very much!”

Now, in response to a fan on X, the 35-year-old addressed the famous banner once more and disclosed his plans to attend a Parkhead game.

“Any plans to visit Celtic Park in the future?” inquired one user. I’m sure you’d be greeted as a hero by all your brethren from across the pond. I’m sure Kieran Tierney would be pleased.”

“This is incredible!” exclaimed the Notorious B.I.G. Hopefully, one day!”

Gustaf Lagerbielke, however, almost signed for a “half-assed team in Belgium” before joining Celtic.

Elfsborg managing director Stefan Andreasson says the 23-year-old may have lost out on a transfer to Parkhead.

Lagerbielke joined the Scottish champions for £3 million during the summer transfer window and was thrust into the starting lineup in August due to an injury issue at center-back.

However, after the return of Cameron Carter-Vickers, he has failed to keep a regular starting spot on the team.

‘Amaizing’: Pundit believes Celtic have a 22-year-old player who is ‘frightening’

Celtic have a quantity of players proper now who are continuing to provoke pundits, media people and fans this season.

Luis Palma is certainly the man of the moment at Celtic right now as the Honduran enjoys the adulation of the supporters and his country’s media.

Kyogo Furuhashi’s goalscoring exploits proceed to impress as the Japanese striker netted as soon as more at the weekend.

But a pundit has been sincerely blown away with Celtic midfielder, Matt O’Riley this season. The 22-year-old has been in scintillating shape for Brendan Rodgers.

O’Riley’s goalscoring has extended so much under the Celtic manager this season that he has been attracting the interest from the likes of Spurs.

Former Scotland striker, Kevin Kyle, has admitted that he is a huge admirer of O’Riley and says that the midfielder is so good, it’s frightening.

Kyle stated [Open Goal], “You understand who I think is amazing? The boy [Matt] O’Riley is frightening. Callum McGregor is simply shoring the whole thing up and O’Riley simply goes anywhere he wants.

“But it’s how he takes the ball, how he receives it. He’s constantly on the half-turn. I don’t know.

“There’s being affected person but it’s his off-the-ball movement that permits him to get the opportunities.”

O’Riley’s form for Celtic has meant that he has already had to put up with some heavy switch hypothesis this season.

TBR Celtic shared this afternoon how Crystal Palace now keep an interest in O’Riley with reports claiming that any bids north of £10m will be ample to make Celtic think about accepting.

Yeah, £10m and the rest. Recently being valued at well over £12m, the amount of interest the Danish u21 international is attracting ability that any fee Celtic will ultimately acquire for O’Riley is likely to be north of £20m and more.

No doubt the nearer we get to the January window, the greater speculation we’ll hear about O’Riley however at least Celtic are secure in the know-how that after signing a new 5-year deal at the club, Celtic can demand top dollar for their prized asset.