The hunt for Celtic’s new manager seems to be taking a fresh twist every single day. Will Dermot Desmond ever find Neil Lennon’s successor? Time will tell.
One of the names so hotly tipped with moving to Parkhead is Roy Keane. The Irishman has reportedly been in discussions with the Hoops hierarchy over replacing Lennon in recent days.
It’s news that has gone down like a led balloon with the Celtic supporters, according to podcaster Paul John Dykes.
That being said, his wealth of experience and contacts in the football world could be game-changing for the Bhoys in the transfer window.
Here are seven players that could arrive if Keane walks through the door in the coming months…
Divock Origi
This is probably the most farfetched name on the list but there is every possibility that the Belgian forward could arrive at Celtic in the summer. Reports state that Origi could move in the opposite direction as part of a move that sees Odsonne Edouard head to Liverpool.
Origi has scored just once this term but has a habit of scoring big goals; netting against Barcelona in the 2018/19 Champions League and then scoring in the final too. He’d be a valuable replacement if Edouard does leave.
Where should Celtic prioritise new transfers?
Defence
Midfield
Attack
Siriki Dembele
Brother of Karamoko, the Peterborough winger could sign on a free transfer when the window opens. He is out of contract in the summer and has been linked with a move to the Hoops in previous weeks.
We’ve already tipped Dembele to replace the enigmatic Ryan Christie in the starting XI. He has severely underperformed this season, scoring just five times compared to the 20 he racked up last term. As a result, Celtic should be in the hunt for a new winger.
Declan Gallagher
Defensive recruits should be at the height of Keane’s agenda if he walks through the door this summer. Celtic have shipped 14 more goals than Rangers in the league and individual errors have been plentiful. Gallagher, who has been tipped with a move to the Hoops, could fix their problems.
The Motherwell centre-back has won 3.9 aerial duels per game this season, a tally that usurps Kristoffer Ajer and Stephen Welsh.
Allan Campbell
Another star of the Motherwell team, Campbell has been touted as the heir to Scott Brown’s throne. The Hoops skipper will leave at the end of the season and will depart Parkhead with an enormous legacy. His departure will leave an open hole in the midfield, however, one Campbell can exploit.
He has won two tackles per match this season, a tally that betters Brown and Ismaila Soro.
Milan van Ewijk
Another area that should be of utmost importance to Keane is at right-back. Jeremie Frimpong left for Germany in January and Jonjoe Kenny is only on loan. Thus, Van Ewijk would be an important signing.
The Dutch full-back has been linked with Celtic in recent months and is an expert in the tackle, winning a whopping 3.3 per game in the Eredivisie this season. That’s considerably more than anyone in the Hoops team.
Romain Perraud
The French left-back has caught the eye of Celtic for the best part of two years now. Could Keane be the man to finally lure him to Glasgow? Quite possibly. With Diego Laxalt heading back to Milan at the conclusion of his loan spell, Celtic will be a little light on the left.
Perraud nearly joined the Bhoys in 2019 but has been the subject of interest again in recent months. FFC has already tipped him to be a like-for-like Kieran Tierney successor.
David Marshall
Another high priority for Keane or any new manager should be in goal. Vasilis Barkas, Scott Bain and Conor Hazard have all been guilty of individual mistakes this term that have cost the team.
Barkas has been glaringly poor considering his £4.5m fee and if Keane arrives, the Irishman should replace him with Marshall.
He has recently been tipped to head back to Celtic and would be a valuable addition. After all, he already knows the surroundings having spent five years with the club between 2002 and 2007.
AND in other news, Bye-bye Edouard: Celtic must swoop for 28-goal “sensation” who’ll “go to the very top”…