It surprises nobody that the Celtic board still haven’t signed a competent striker following Kyogo Furuhashi’s exit 12 months ago.
The powers that be at Celtic got away with it last January because Brendan Rodgers had the team well clear at the top of the Premiership table.
But things are far different now, as Celtic are the chasers, and they simply haven’t been good enough this season.
One of the main issues has been the striker role, and despite the club’s best attempts to replace Kyogo with Kyogo, the Open Goal panel discussed the possibility of bringing Callum Wilson on board.
Callum Wilson at Celtic… yes or no?
Celtic told it’s a ‘no brainer’ to sign Callum Wilson
Nothing has been confirmed by West Ham United yet, but it is widely expected that Wilson’s contract will be terminated.
The Hammers have already signed two strikers for big money this month, and the player himself hasn’t featured in recent matches, including against QPR in the FA Cup over the weekend.
So, given that Wilson is set to be a free agent, Si Ferry and Greg Stewart were all for Celtic signing the England striker this month, as they told Open Goal.
Paul Slane wasn’t so sure because of the 33-year-old’s injury record, after he left Newcastle United on a free last summer.
Slane: “Let me be clear here to the board, that doesn’t mean you sit there and go, ‘Oh, Martin O’Neill is in, everything is going to be fine.’ They still need players in the building.
“The fact that on the 1st of January, there wasn’t a striker in. That was last January, Celtic needed a striker in. They have to get a centre-forward in the building. How that’s still not in is worrying me.
“Kyogo looks like he has turned it down, hasn’t he?”
Ferry: ‘Callum Wilson?”
Slane: “Is he injury prone?”
Stewart: “Until the end of the season? It’s a no-brainer.”
Ferry: “100%, you are talking, Callum Wilson.”
Slane: “He would be a cracker. But I don’t know.”
I am choosing Callum Wilson/Kyogo Furuhashi because…
Wilson’s season at West Ham in numbers
It needs to be noted that West Ham are in a mess. Facing relegation to the English Championship, and seven points adrift of safety.
Yes, Wilson has had injury issues before. But nothing has cropped up this season, just like Kieran Tierney, so that is a positive.
Plus, Wilson’s record overall is fantastic, and during this campaign, he just hasn’t been handed enough starts or minutes to really prove his worth.
- Games: 18
- Starts: 9
- Goals: 4
- Assists: 1
- Total minutes: 814
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