Well it’s getting close to that time again, to the Silly Season, when we’re going to be linked with every player out there. There will even be hilarious stories about we are after the same players as a certain other Glasgow club that doesn’t not only have the pot to piss in but doesn’t have the window to throw it out either. Skintco. You know the one I mean.
Some of these stories won’t be particularly original.
One of them will come over and over again like a recurring nightmare; the one which got me into such trouble last year, the James McCarthy story. Whatever others might say about that, my source was a good one, and he heard it from the player’s own lips; the guy wanted to come here. He thought it was going to happen. Why didn’t it? I have no idea, but when people deny that Celtic were interested I don’t know what to tell them.
According to my guy the interest was mutual.
Now rumours suggest that the deal may be resurrected.
It wouldn’t surprise me at all. McCarthy must be unhappier than ever, and Brendan knows the midfield needs some steel in it. There’s a lot of interest in this kid coming home, and it’s a move that wouldn’t be terribly hard to sell to the Celtic supporters. But of course, he’s one of a number of players we’re linked with.
I can’t lie; I’d love to see this one come off. This is the guy we missed out on, a player who should have been at Celtic years ago. That he became a top talent isn’t a surprise. The only surprise is that he’s not had a chance to show what he can do this year on Merseyside. The guy has played two league games since the start of the season; it’s over for him there, and everyone knows it. A move – even on loan with an option to buy – just makes good sense.
But Brendan does have other options, and it’ll be interesting to see what he does.
A midfielder is certainly key to his thinking; we’ve been told that enough times in the past few months. There’s little doubt that some of our current players in that position will be leaving to accommodate any signings; Nir Bitton might well be one of them.
McCarthy has the right qualities to come to our club and do well.
Bring him home, Brendan.
Bring him home.