Report: Griffiths relationship with McPake key to potential Celtic exit

By John McGinley

August 28, 2021

Dundee want to sign Celtic striker Leigh Griffiths on loan, The Scottish Sun reports.

And the paper believes that Griffiths also wants to return to Dens Park, where he played between 2009 and 2011. Even back then he had a fine reputation as a goalscorer, scoring 33 goals in 62 appearances.

However, it’s relationships forged at Livingston and Hibernian that could seal his exit from the Bhoys.

The Scottish Sun reckons Griffiths and Dundee boss James McPake are still in touch from their days at Livingston and Hibernian. He also knows assistant boss Dave Mackay from his time in West Lothian.

McPake is credited with being a good influence of Griffiths’ career when he was banging in goals at Easter Road, with the former defender serving as the Hibs captain.

Griffiths has less than a year left on his contract at Celtic and the prospect of him earning another deal is exceedingly slim. So any loan exit this summer would no doubt become a permanent goodbye from the Bhoys.

That’ll be fine in the eyes of many Hoops supporters. He’s not the most popular player around these parts anymore.

It would be a cracking signing from a Dundee perspective. They need goals to kickstart their season and, despite everything, that’s what Griffiths can provide on a Saturday.

The move makes sense for many reasons so, personally, I’m hoping it goes through imminently before the end of the transfer window on Tuesday night.

It’s time for Celtic to move on from Griffiths and, arguably, time for Griffiths to move on from Celtic.

In other news, Michael Stewart questions who signed Carl Starfelt at Celtic.