Andrew Gutman’s future has suddenly been thrown into the spotlight after Cincinnati’s statement earlier this week.
Indeed, the Celtic-owned left-back, who spent a season with the MLS side this year, is now in talks to remain with the Ohio-based outfit. It’s been unclear as to whether the discussions are for something more permanent, or whether it’s to simply extend his loan stay back in his homeland.
Work permit issues have been a struggle for the left-back, who signed for the Hoops in January 2019 back when Brendan Rodgers was manager. A failure to secure his permit has led to loan spells back home with Charlotte Independence and then Cincinnati.
But with regards to where Gutman’s priorities lie in all of this, he provided an insight into his mindset over the summer. Indeed, he spoke at length about his desire to one day play at Celtic Park as well as expressing his frustration over his ongoing permit issues.
Speaking in the Glasgow Times back in May, Gutman said: “I think about playing at Celtic Park almost every day. I have been working out and then I’ll just drift off into a little daydream and I am playing at Celtic Park or something like that. It is definitely my goal at the minute.
“The atmosphere at Celtic Park is just crazy. I remember my first game when I signed I got goosebumps when the teams came out the tunnel.
“There are other Americans playing in Scotland and they seem to have gone over there no problem. I don’t know if you are playing for a bigger club it is maybe harder to get (permit). I try not to think about it too much though and just focus on what I am doing at my club and if I can show well enough then I can get back to Celtic.”
Gutman’s ambition isn’t to stay at home
These comments are extremely telling with regard to whether his next move will be permanent or temporary. The defender’s main goal is still to make it at Celtic Park – that simply won’t have changed over the course of the last six months.
The 24-year-old spent much of the 2019/20 pre-season with Neil Lennon and also came back for a week to train last season too. A similar spell during the close-season would be ideal for Lennon to see how well the defender has progressed.
But Gutman isn’t wrong about the American players currently in Scotland. Ian Harkes, for example, plies his trade with Dundee United after coming from the States. Matt Polster was also playing for Rangers at the time Gutman made his comments too. There are plenty of examples both past and present of Americans coming over no bother.
So everything almost certainly hinges on how his work permit is progressing. If there are still issues, then it would make sense for him to continue impressing in the USA. It’s clear he’s adored by the Cincinnati supporters after all.
But with a contract at Parkhead that lasts until the summer of 2022, the Hoops still have time to sort this out. Gutman looks more than capable of competing for a spot at Celtic Park, especially if Diego Laxalt has to head back to Milan at the end of the season.
It would be ideal for the Celtic supporters to get a good look at him, and going by Gutman’s comments over the summer, that’s exactly what he still wants too.
In other news, the Celtic fans just can’t agree on an issue that’s clearly halted our season.
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