Frank McAvennie’s claim that Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain could replace Callum McGregor “all day long” will sound ridiculous to some Celtic supporters.
The former Celtic striker also believes that if Iheanacho gets fit, he could be a major player for the Hoops in the transfer market soon.
But beneath the exaggeration sits a genuinely interesting point about Celtic’s recruitment and the type of market the club may increasingly need to exploit.
Would you extend Kelechi Iheanacho’s Celtic contract?
McAvennie says Celtic could sell Iheanacho and Oxlade-Chamberlain for £20m each
After both players played a big part in Celtic’s title win, McAvennie dropped a huge price on their heads, but only if they can get fit.
Speaking on the Let Me Be Frank Podcast, McAvennie said, “I’m just thinking, this is me thinking outside the box, Oxlade-Chamberlain, he could do that job [Callum McGregor’s] all day long if you get him fit.
“All day long. And he’s done it at a higher stage. It wouldn’t phase him. He’s free.
“And Iheanacho. See, if you were to sign those two and get them fit, you could sell them in a year, £20 million each. Easy. If they’re fit and playing, I have no doubt.
“They have played at the top, you don’t lose that. I mean, Iheanacho comes on, and you see what he does, comes on for a half an hour, he’s not fit, and you can see what he’s done.
“You imagine getting him fit. And Oxlade-Chamberlain, he’s controlled Champions League Finals.”
The resale figures are probably fantasy, but Celtic should not ignore the broader football argument.
Oxlade-Chamberlain has 235 Premier League appearances behind him and was part of Liverpool’s Champions League-winning side. Even now, his football intelligence and positional understanding remain obvious.
McGregor is still Celtic’s midfield controller, but succession planning has to start at some stage. Rodgers may not view Oxlade-Chamberlain as a long-term answer, but he absolutely fits the profile of a short-term stabiliser with elite-level experience.
The same applies to Iheanacho, who still managed eight Celtic goals in limited minutes despite fitness issues disrupting his season.
Martin O’Neill has revived careers at Celtic before
This is also where McAvennie’s comments become more credible. Martin O’Neill had built large parts of his managerial reputation on improving players other clubs had effectively given up on.
Chris Sutton, Henrik Larsson and John Hartson improved dramatically under O’Neill. More recently, Liam Scales, Hyunjun Yang and Marcelo Saracchi have also benefited from his coaching.
Celtic cannot regularly buy finished elite players in their prime. The club’s realistic opportunity often sits with experienced players whose value has collapsed because of injuries or lost momentum.
That does not mean every gamble works. Fitness remains the key issue with both Oxlade-Chamberlain and Iheanacho. But McAvennie is correct about one thing. Players with genuine top-level pedigree do not suddenly forget how to play football.
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