Celtic Blogs

Celtic should make £10m move for winger in what pundit claims would be “a great deal”

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Pundit, Noel Whelan has told Football Insider that he believes Celtic should do what they can to get a permanent deal for on-loan winger Mohamed Elyounoussi secured in the January transfer window.

Whelan has been impressed with the Norwegian international of late and despite what could be a record transfer fee, feels it would be money well spent.

So what has Whelan said?

Whelan was asked about the speculation about Celtic being quoted £8-10m to secure Elyounoussi and said:

“If Celtic could get it done, that would be a great deal, obviously, it’s a lot of money for them, and is pretty much the most they’ve ever spent on anyone”.

“But you can see how much impact Elyounoussi has made in just a few months and he’s clearly loving the trust he’s getting from Neil Lennon”.

“Wingers who can score as prolifically as centre-forwards are worth their weight in gold. You look at players like Mo Salah, Raheem Sterling, Sadio Mane, the best in the Premier League”.

“Elyounoussi can be huge for Celtic. He’s dynamite – quick, good feet, a big threat cutting in from the left, scores goals, creates goals. He’s tough as well”,

So is Whelan right?

Elyounoussi’s parent club, Southampton, paid £16m for the winger only last summer, he has consistently scored goals and contributed at every club he has been at. He had a difficult year at the Saints last season but so did a lot of players, when results aren’t going a manager’s way, time and patience for players to adapt is limited.

The Norwegian’s recent form saw him named player of the month for October and now has 7 goals and 6 assists in 12 appearances, he picked up an injury just before the international break but he doesn’t look like missing too many games and should be available for the Betfred League Cup final.

The left wing slot was up for grabs at the beginning of the season with Mikey Johnston and Lewis Morgan both getting a run of games with the shadow of Scott Sinclair lurking in the background – although it appears, despite what has been said in the press by Neill Lennon, that he doesn’t have long left at Parkhead. Even with Johnston and Elyounoussi injured, Sinclair couldn’t make the bench with Morgan being preferred.

Celtic have had a good chance to assess Elyounoussi over the last few months and are in pole position if they want to sign the winger, it would represent a relatively low-risk signing but it could potentially take more than the £9m paid to sign Odsonne Edouard.

What should Celtic pay for Elyounoussi?

£8m max

£8m max

£8-10m

£8-10m

Whatever it takes!

Whatever it takes!

Whelan is right, wingers that score and create goals are worth their weight in gold, just how much Celtic are will to part with remains to be seen.

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