Unless something happens from now until Thursday’s transfer deadline, it seems as though the powers that be have decided against a new number nine.
This time last season, Giorgos Giakoumakis was leaving Celtic to start a new career in the MLS – he proceeded to win the Newcomer of the Year.
That saw Hyeongyu Oh enter the building, but Andy Walker made it clear that the South Korean star, who is currently at the Asian Cup, simply isn’t the same quality as Giorgos Giakoumakis, as he told Go Radio.
What was also concerning is what would happen if star man Kyogo Furuhashi were to get injured, then it would put Brendan Rodgers in a bit of a hole.
Yes, the Japan star isn’t firing at his consistent best this season, but he has still stepped up and produced the goods when it has mattered most, just cite back to Celtic’s wins in the Glasgow derbies.
All of this is just a huge risk according to Andy Walker because he feels that another striker should be coming in, but he thinks Celtic are waiting until the summer.
Giorgos Giakoumakis and Hyeongyu Oh
“I just think it’s a huge gamble,” said Walker. “If you don’t get a striker in during this window, and listening to what Brendan Rodgers said there ‘in the coming windows’.
“You immediately think ‘alright, the next window’. I mean Celtic have got the money to spend money on a starting XI-ready type of striker. Brendan Rodgers will know a lot of players who will be available down south. It’s a big gamble if you don’t get another striker of some quality in before this window is out.
“Can you imagine if they don’t and Kyogo gets injured? Wow. What a chance you are taking.
On Giakoumakis not being replaced after his £4.3 million transfer: “Maybe Oh is regarded as that type of player. But I don’t think he is the same quality. This is a massive title to be playing for. I think Rangers will win their games in hand, then it’s anyone’s title after that.”
Brendan Rodgers’ demands
It wasn’t so long ago that the manager was insisting that quality be brought in this month, but now he has changed his tune.
Fans won’t get to know it, but it would be interesting to know what Rodgers has actually demanded from the board from the get-go, midway through the season and now.
Has he been promised that the powers that be will go all out in the summer? It could be too late by then.
Either way, there is already huge pressure on the players to defend the title again, with Rangers breathing down their necks.
If all of this slips out of the team’s hands, then not only will the board cop a load of stick, but so will Rodgers himself.
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