If Bodo Glimt’s right winger Ola Solbakken and Hammarby left back Mohanad Jeahze do make their way to Celtic this summer – as has been reported in the last few days – it appears both players talents won’t break the bank – something Ange Postecoglou appears to be making a habit of after tying up bargain deals for the likes of Josip Juanovic (£2.5m) in the summer, and all three Japanese recruits Reo Hatate(£1.4m), Daizen Maeda(£1.4m) and Yosuke Ideguchi (£700,000) in the January transfer window.
In the case of Jeahze, the Iraqi international, according to Swedish publication expressen, would cost around £1.6m, meanwhile Solbakken according to Gazzetta dello Sport, as reported by the Daily Record would also cost a similar fee.
Jeahze perhaps looks the most likely signing given left-back is very much an area Celtic are looking to strengthen and offer some support in terms of competition to Greg Taylor. Meanwhile Solbakken, who apparently is of interest to Roma after his goalscoring exploits against Jose Mourinho’s side in the Europa Conference League this season, is maybe seen very much a contingency plan should plans to sign Jota on a permanent arrangement fail to materialise. Maybe not though as perhaps Ange is looking at the player as a long term replacement for James Forrest?
With Celtic very much focused on the job in hand, namely effectively securing the league title with a win over theRangers this weekend, the focus will of course be one game and one game only at a time for Ange Postecoglou. But for those involved in Celtic’s recruitment, plans for next season will be well under way.
And it appears Celtic’s ongoing rebuild will have Ange’s keen eye for a bargain front and centre, as much as targeting the talent needed to progress the manager’s wish for strong competition in every position.
Celtic chief executive Michael Nicholson (centre) Photo: Jeff Holmes
Considering the level of rebuild that was required at Celtic, value as much as talent was always going to have to be something balanced carefully and in Ange Postecoglou it seems Celtic have a manager with both an eye for a player and an ability to work to a budget – no doubt music to the ears of Celtic’s latest CEO, who to be fair to Michael Nicholson he is prepared to sign the two large cheques to both Tottenham and Benfica for the services of Cameron Carter-Vickers and Jota just as soon as the season is over.
More must-reads: