Celtic’s search for a striker goes on, and it will probably be a never-ending search.
It has been 12 months since Celtic sold Kyogo Furuhashi, and there has been no proper replacement come through the doors, as many names have been linked, including Evan Ferguson.
Ferguson is playing for AS Roma on a season-long loan from Brighton and Hove Albion, and his current situation in Italy has annoyed Troy Deeney.
The former Premier League striker has called out Roma boss Gian Piero Gasperini over his treatment of the Celtic-linked striker.
- READ MORE: Michael Stewart brilliantly exposes the Celtic board’s failures after collapsed Kyogo deal
The reason why Evan Ferguson would join Celtic is _ _ _ _ _
Troy Deeney on Evan Ferguson’s situation at AS Roma as Celtic search for a striker
Ferguson has had a mixed time of it at Roma, and the goals haven’t been flowing as he would have liked, as Deeney has taken exception to how the no-nonsense Gasperini has gone about his ways.
Speaking on CBS Sports, Deeney feels that Gasperini has made it ‘personal’ with Ferguson by not talking about his ability on the pitch, but ‘the profile of the player’, as the man in the dugout questioned his physique.
Deeney made the point that if Roma don’t want Ferguson, then there are ‘many clubs across Europe’ who would happily sign the Irish striker.
“You could say that ‘you’re not performing to the best of your ability. You are not scoring the goals I would like you to,'” said Deeney.
“But he is talking about the profile of the player. So, he is making it personal within that moment. For everybody else, he is making an exception of where we are at and where we need to get to.
“That’s the bit I have the frustration with because Evan Ferguson has been there. He didn’t choose to go there because he thought he could do it. He can’t change the way he is physically, and then the manager comes in and says, ‘Oh, you are not for me. Profile-wise, you are not the one.’
“Okay, ‘let me go back’, because Brighton would take him back right now. Many clubs across Europe would take him.
“But they won’t because they want to keep him there because they don’t want to lose the goals. But, ‘hey, just letting you know, he’s not my type of guy.'”
The first thing I would do if I was on the Celtic board is – – – –
Ferguson’s stats for Roma this season
Roma are in the Europa League alongside Celtic, and unlike the champions of Scotland, they are going great guns and have a chance to secure a top-eight finish.
That included the Italian club turning up to Celtic Park in December, under the ill-fated reign of Wilfried Nancy, securing three points and putting three goals past the Hoops.
Ferguson netted a brace on that day, and this is how he has fared at Roma this season:
- Games: 21
- Starts: 12
- Goals: 5
- Assists: 2
- WhoScored rating in the Europa League: 6.45
- WhoScored rating in Serie A: 6.54
Receive a digest of our best Celtic content each week direct to your mailbox
