Report: Celtic linked with a move for Dutch international Adam Maher

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Celtic are reportedly keeping tabs on Dutch midfielder Adam Maher this summer.

According to De Telegraaf, the AZ Alkmaar man is out-of-contract at the end of the season. Celtic have named as one of six clubs monitoring his situation. He has reportedly decided not to sign a new contract with the Eridivisie outfit.

Other clubs apparently include the likes of QPR, Blackburn Rovers, Fenerbahce, and Brescia. So it’s fair to say that Maher will have options should he choose to move on this year.

Former Celtic striker Pierre van Hooijdonk once rated him as “the best in the Eridivisie” (Daily Record). Maher has made five appearances for the Dutch national team too. That’s helped his stock take a surge, but his last outing came all the way back in 2013 against Andorra.

Big questions to be asked

Maher has had spells with several different clubs in Holland. His previous club record includes the likes of FC Twente and PSV Eindhoven respectively. He certainly has decent pedigree, and has been playing consistent Eridivisie football for years. He has, however, made only 24 appearances this season.

He’s certainly more of a creative midfielder than a holding one. Maher’s skillset includes killer passes, good close-control, and, perhaps most importantly, pace.

Celtic have strongly lacked pace going forward from the midfield this season. Tom Rogic has struggled to make an impact since returning from injury against Rangers last March. With Ryan Christie back in the summer, however, this may not be the problem it would’ve been.

What’s also interesting, however, is that Maher plays in the same position as West Bromwich Albion’s Rakeem Harper. Celtic are also reportedly keen on the West Brom man too, and that could prove to be a dilemma for Neil Lennon (Daily Record). After all, we don’t need both of them, and Harper has apparently already been up to see the Hoops.

The fact Maher is apparently a free transfer helps makes this one believable. But it’s that time of year where the transfer rumours start bulking up. All we can hope for is that Celtic start recruiting wisely in a big few months.