Charlie Mulgrew has given his brutally honest take on Celtic buying Hearts duo Lawrence Shankland and Alexandros Kyziridis this January.
As Celtic prepare to buy Tomas Cvancara, Mulgrew also floats the idea that the Parkhead club should ask Hearts about the Tynecastle duo this window.
Obviously, Shankland is injured at the moment, but Mulgrew believes that if Celtic put in the right offer to Hearts, the Tynecastle club would sell.
Do you agree with Neil Lennon?
With Celtic preparing to face Hearts this weekend, the former Hoops man believes that the Parkhead club should be looking to speculate to accumulate as he floats the idea that Shankland and Kyziridis should go to the Bhoys.
Charlie Mulgrew’s ‘realistic’ take on Celtic buying Shankland and Kyziridis
Hearts’ challenge to Celtic is real. The Tynecastle club are six points ahead with the big top-of-the-table clash coming up this weekend.
And Mulgrew reckons the best way to derail this is for Celtic to buy the Hearts duo.
Mulgrew asked Kevin Thomson on The Breakdown, “Here’s a thought I had, right. How realistic do you think this is would be? Hearts sell Shankland and Kyziridis to Celtic.
Thomson [laughter]: “No chance. Well, they would have to if the money was right, wouldn’t they?”
Mulgrew: “That’s what I mean. So everybody’s got their price. Shankland and Kyziridis what’s their price well?”
Thomson: “They’ve both got long term deals. Shankland just signed his deal in the summer obviously. Do you know what I mean? So say three years Shankland’s got. Kyziridis will be the same.
“Kyziridis will end up getting sold abroad somewhere, I’d imagine. But listen, you don’t want to sound disrespectful to any other club when it comes to Rangers and Celtic, but it’s the same when Rangers and Celtic players get bought by people that have got bigger pockets than them.
“So everybody’s got a price. You have to understand, with the greatest respect, where you are in the layer cake.
“I cannot see Celtic coming in unless you’re telling me different.”
Charlie Mulgrew’s Champions League theory on Celtic buying Shankland and Kyziridis
Not only would adding Shankland and Kyziridis derail Hearts’ title bid, it would also boost Celtic’s chances of qualifying for the Champions League, according to Mulgrew.
Mulgrew continued, “I can’t see it right, but let’s imagine they just go, ‘We’re going for it here. Let’s be brave. Let’s go for Shankland.’
Thomson: “You think you’re playing Football Manager, don’t you?”
Mulgrew: “Wait a minute. Right. So, there’s a price on everybody, right? You’re saying they won’t sell, right? Would Shankland go for 10 million quid after going for nothing in the summer?”
Thomson: “Listen, but my argument to that is would Celtic pay that kind of money for him?”
Mulgrew: “I don’t think they would. But what I’m saying is if it’s worth just say for talking’s sake £34 million plus your Champions League money. So, we’re throwing numbers out there, but let’s say between £30 and £40 million for qualifying.
“I know it’s the league doesn’t guarantee you get the Champions League, but if you think right, we win the league and then we qualify, do you think it’s worth putting £15 to £20 million out and taking Kyziridis and Shankland?”
Would Celtic fans believe that Shankland is the type of striker the club needs right now? Especially as the Scotland forward is now 30 years old?
It’s a brave, but rather silly, suggestion and one that, although was some light-hearted conversation, would not be accepted by the vast majority of Celtic supporters.
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