New Celtic signing Boli Bolingoli-Mbombo has hinted that he’s no Kieran Tierney replacement.
The man the Hoops have signed for £3million (The Herald) certainly has an element of intrigue about him. Not many of us have seen what the left-back has to offer, but supporters were able to put two and two together after he signed.
It all points to him being a replacement for our much loved current left-back in Tierney. Despite a fee for our star-man not having yet been agreed, there seems to be a general acceptance that his departure is inevitable.
But that’s nothing that Bolingoli-Mbombo is aware of. Instead, he offered some hope of Tierney potentially staying by saying that he looks forward to slugging it out with him for the left-back spot. Speaking in the Daily Record, the new man had this to say:
“I didn’t ask if the player was going to stay or not. I came here for the club and to make history. If he is going to stay or not, it’s going to change nothing for my decision at all.
“It’s always healthy competition to have a colleague like this player. He is a good player, I have heard a lot of positive things about him.
“I am always open for healthy competition and if he stays we will work together and try to give everything to the club.”
No Tierney replacement, but an Izaguirre one?
It’s good to hear that Bolingoli-Mbombo hasn’t been given or asked for any assurances. That can put to bed any idea that he’s been told he’ll be first-choice.
But, in saying that, there’s just something about the £3m fee we paid out for the left-back. Celtic don’t openly spend money like that on players they think will be back-up. And if Tierney stays, it’s difficult to see Bolingoli-Mbombo being anything other than back-up.
We did need an Emilio Izaguirre replacement admittedly. But that could’ve just been Andrew Gutman, who’s impressed in his pre-season outings this season. Jonny Hayes has also frequently played at left-back too, even if he’s struggled with consistency at times.
We’re the first to admit that it’s all guesswork at the moment. Perhaps we can be accused of trying to read into everything regarding whether Tierney will stay or not. And whilst Bolingoli-Mbombo has said that he didn’t actually ask whether Tierney would stay, you get the feeling it’s something the club could’ve brought up if he was definitely for the off.
After all, if Celtic have every intention of letting Tierney go, wouldn’t they just tell Mbombo that? It would’ve helped our cause even more with regards to bringing him here.
Hopefully Celtic can stick to their guns. We have our valuation, come and pay it if you want our man. That’s the mantra Celtic appear to be going with, and even though Mbombo has arrived, we could still just be bringing him in as a precaution.
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