Aaron Mooy Might Not Be The Universal Choice, But For Celtic He’s The Right One.

About a fortnight ago, I wrote about the prospect of this club moving for Jordan Larsson and Aaron Mooy. I thought Mooy was the more likely of the two and that there was probably a deal to be done. I wasn’t in the least bit surprised last night when it was his name who emerged as one of our two likely deals in the coming week.

This has been met with a lot of “meh” online.

I understand, in part, why. He’s 31. He’s available free. He’s not played in a while. But this is a guy who had offers in England. A guy who’s had a great career. More importantly, he is a guy who Ange knows well, and the boss knows what he would bring to us.

Aaron Mooy brings qualities to this team which Ange understands and recognises. He’s not a long term solution to a problem area, he’s being brought in to firm up one area of the pitch where all of his experience and ability will make us stronger.

I long ago ceased caring about “net spend” or any of that crap. The manager built a title winning team last season on a transfer surplus; that’s virtually unheard of in the modern game. He knows his business, and if he thinks this guy fits the picture then great. Mooy will add some steel to the midfield, and he will give us something different.

Those knocking him on account of his age forget that Scott Brown was still playing at his peak when he was several years older than Mooy is now. The media will not dare bring it up because they have cheer-led Ibrox re-signing players who are three or four years older.

Besides, they’ve learned that Ange knows his stuff.

They’ve seen that this manager has a keen eye and will get the best out of the player.

And to me that’s all that matters.

Ange is not coming into this one blind. He’s well aware of how Mooy is, and what he can do and he reckons he can come in and do that for Celtic, for a couple of seasons. It’s a logical, smart piece of business.