The choice – or moderately the failure – to not substitute Kyogo Furuhashi within the January window should still rankle with these of a Celtic persuasion, but the shortage of a brand new centre-forward shouldn’t take away from an in any other case strong month or so available in the market for the Hoops.
Having now confirmed that Kieran Tierney is ready to make the transfer again to Glasgow on a free switch this summer time, the Scotland star will observe within the footsteps of man of the second, Jota, in making an emotional return to Parkhead.
It’s nonetheless early days within the Portuguese’s second spell on the membership, but all of the indicators level to the £8m addition choosing up the place he left off, having already scored two objectives and supplied one help from simply three Premiership outings.
The 25-year-old’s newest beautiful effort in opposition to Dundee United additionally noticed supervisor Brendan Rodgers dish out reward for one more new man, Jeffrey Schlupp, having highlighted the Ghanaian’s “actually good run” that made house for Jota to surge into.
Quietly, the on-loan Crystal Palace man – who hit the submit from vary in opposition to the Tangerines – is making fairly the impression following his shock deadline day change, having greater than staked his declare to switch Greg Taylor as Rodgers’ beginning left-back.
Greg Taylor’s future at Celtic
The last-gasp seize of Schlupp has solely served to intensify the scrutiny surrounding the long-serving Taylor, with the previous Kilmarnock man dealing with an unsure future at Celtic Park amid his expiring contract.
The 27-year-old is but to pen contemporary phrases even if his present deal runs out on the finish of the season, with the Previous Agency giants working the danger of letting their £3m signing depart for nothing.
That incapability to recoup a payment for the 14-cap Scotland worldwide could be eased by the upcoming arrival of his compatriot, Tierney, though it could nonetheless sting contemplating Taylor does seemingly boast a strong market worth.
Certainly, in accordance with Transfermarkt, the skilled defender is deemed to be price round €7m (£6m), even amid his present contract state of affairs, with the membership maybe left to remorse not cashing in sooner, be it in January or final summer time.
Curiously, that £6m valuation for the reported Dinamo Zagreb goal really locations Taylor above certainly one of his former teammates, with fellow full-back, Josip Juranovic, having seen his worth tumble since leaving Scotland.
Josip Juranovic’s present market worth
As has been evident with the gross sales of Jota, Matt O’Riley and Kyogo in latest instances, Celtic have little doubt improved with regard to their potential to rake in notable charges for his or her prized belongings of late.
That was little doubt the case with regard to the departure of that man Juranovic, with Ange Postecoglou and co capable of rake in a good-looking revenue on their preliminary £2.5m funding.
Talking on the time of the right-back’s arrival in Glasgow again in the summertime of 2021, Postecoglou was evidently happy to have gotten the Croatian within the door, having informed the membership’s official web site:
“We’re completely delighted to be bringing Josip to the Membership and we’re positive he will probably be a fantastic addition to the squad. As I’ve stated earlier than, everybody on the membership has been working arduous so as to add to our squad and we have now made good progress. I’m actually happy to deliver Josip in to assist the remainder of the boys.
“We have now so many challenges forward of us and Josip will add essential high quality and depth. I’m actually wanting ahead to working with him.”
The Zagreb native went on to get pleasure from a fruitful stint in inexperienced and white previous to departing within the 2023 January window, having racked up six objectives and three assists in 53 video games in all competitions.
Snug working at left-back or right-back, the now 29-year-old additionally shone on the worldwide stage on the 2022 World Cup, with Postecoglou praising the defender for placing in “robust performances in opposition to world-class opponents”.
Because it proved, his position in Croatia’s surge to the semi-final resulted in a £10m change to Union Berlin only a few weeks later, with Celtic having already been one step forward after getting Alistair Johnston within the door from Montreal.
Since then, Johnston has gone on to far exceed Juranovic’s impression on the membership, with the Canadian – who value simply £3.5m – already boasting 23 objectives and assists in 97 appearances throughout all fronts.
|
Johnston vs Juranovic – League stats (24/25) |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Stat (*per sport) |
Johnston (SPL) |
Juranovic (Bundesliga) |
|
Video games |
22 |
8 |
|
Targets |
4 |
0 |
|
Assists |
6 |
0 |
|
Huge possibilities created |
12 |
3 |
|
Key passes* |
1.6 |
1.5 |
|
Go accuracy* |
87% |
74% |
|
Tackles & interceptions* |
2.3 |
1.5 |
|
Duels received* |
58% |
45% |
|
Stats through Sofascore |
||
Described as “a particular improve” on Juranovic by former Celtic hero, Stiliyan Petrov, Johnston has made these at Parkhead swiftly neglect all about his predecessor. As for the Berlin man, he does boast 4 objectives and 6 assists in 53 video games for his present facet, though has seen his worth fall to only €6m (£5m), thus under even that of Taylor’s.
As such, the case of Juranovic not solely exhibits the good thing about cashing in on the proper time, but in addition in having already acquired an ample substitute to fill the void, previous to sanctioning a sale.
There could also be these wishing {that a} related course of had been repeated with regard to Kyogo…
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