I had a good laugh this morning reading the news stories online about our big transfer window target; Daniel Sturridge of Liverpool.
The guy is class, but there are so many obstacles to a deal like this coming off that it seems ridiculous. Indeed, I have serious doubts that a move of this nature could ever come off. But I like the daring of it.
Sturridge is an A-List player, and if he’s available and if the idea of a move to Celtic Park interests him then we should run with it to see what’s what.
It goes without saying that he would have to take a significant wage cut to come to Celtic Park. Presuming everyone involved knew that before negotiations even opened … if he’s game then why not?
Look, at the end of the day this won’t happen. But the attempt should be made. We talk a good game about being a huge club, this would be us acting like one. If Dembele is going to go then we need a top class player to replace him; Sturridge is exactly that. The move would speak to intent, it would signify that we take our stature seriously and they we have designs beyond Scotland.
In terms of the PR it would be a winner. Sturridge would be easily the biggest name to come to Scotland in over a decade. That would raise the profile of the game here too.
The biggest obstacle will be the naysayers who claim it can’t be done. Many of them would in our own support. Some might even be inside the club itself, but the manager has the right to decide who he wants to see wearing the jersey and he can spend his budget as he sees fit. If Brendan believes this is a move we should make he should be supported.
This window promises to be interesting, but this would be the most exciting development we could hope for. I still think something like this would be more likely in the summer rather than now – but if Moussa goes then this is an obvious step. Don’t rule it out.