Celtic appear to have cooled their interest in James Penrice after making an enquiry for the Scottish defender. Can’t we just sign Martin O’Neill’s choice Marcelo Saracchi?
Having passed up the option to bring Marcelo Saracchi back to the football club after a successful loan spell and despite the manager specifically requesting it, for reasons unknown to us all, the Celtic hierarchy decided to leave the Uruguayan defender where he is at Boca Juniors in South American football, even though he was desperate to return and stated so consistently.
Back-up for Kieran Tierney still required
That has now left us with yet another gap in the worse for wear squad we have presently, as Kieran Tierney has no back-up to help share minutes or step in if the full-back picks up a knock or niggle heading into the new campaign.
This is a major issue and the boss is currently left with a major headache in this area of the team again, as Liam Scales is one of our centre-backs and Adam Montgomery is well out of the picture despite early promise under Ange Postecoglou a four years back now.
Celtic enquiry for James Penrice not followed up
It had been claimed by journalist Ben Jacobs that the Hoops had supposedly sought information about ex-Heart of Midlothian defender, James Penrice, to find out if he would be available for transfer and if the numbers involved would be achievable.
That initial enquiry hasn’t seemed to come to anything more though, as Jacobs has now confirmed it has not gone beyond that initial stage, as Celtic have now cooled interest in the former Livingston left-back.
Taking to his social media profile on X, to inform all of his followers about the new James Penrice to Celtic update, he said: “Celtic’s initial enquiry for James Penrice has not been followed up. Deal not expected to progress now.”
Celtic’s initial enquiry for James Penrice has not been followed up. Deal not expected to progress now.🍀 https://t.co/zjtpvQFXjY
— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) July 25, 2026
Perhaps the club have been quoted too high a figure for the man who moved to the Greek Super League with AEK Athens last summer window for a £2 million fee.
Penrice is a domestic rival of old Celtic full-back Greg Taylor, who is currently at PAOK FC after leaving the club for a different experience last year too.
Taylor hasn’t been adequately replaced and it is frustrating for many supporters that the club have let another hole appear in the squad for Martin O’Neill to deal with, considering the major and glaring issues which already exist.
Dundee United’s Will Ferry also linked with Celtic move
Rumours have it that O’Neill would be interested in bringing Dundee United player Will Ferry to the club as a possible Kieran Tierney back-up, but whether or not that will happen remains to be seen, as the Irishman continues an almighty rebuild this year.
Can’t we just go back in and get Marcelo Saracchi from Boca Juniors? It would make perfect sense and would be a hugely popular move for the Celtic support…
Paul Gillespie
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2 Comments
It would make far more sense, if you looked moreso at the dilemma MoN is facing at forming the 25man European squad, with the decision making involved within it?
Saracchi was the obvious choice admittedly, but as MoN is potentially looking at the LB position, in order to fill our 8 homegrown quota requirements within our 25man European squad?
Is that the wrong decision taken by him?
The alternative is looking for another Scottish player, to potentially take the position of someone else?
Or do we just go for a 24 man European squad, because we can’t fill our 8 homegrown requirements? Which was an embarrassment last season?
Thought Kenny actually met the requirements, but apparently he doesn’t?
Liam Miller is still my own preferred choice in this matter, especially in a position where he could well benefit ourselves imo?
A partner for Calmac, along with being the potential replacement for him also, was something I actually thought we would inquire about, especially within a rebuilding process imo?
But nothing to suggest that we have, and doubtful he is even available to buy either?
Would also have made a deal far easier for Saracchi to have been completed, as it would have given ourselves a far better structure to our overall squad imo?
Hence, I still would make Taylor the favourite for the position, especially as MoN isn’t spoilt for choices available to fulfill our 8 homegrown requirements?
Bringing in Saracchi now, would reduce the number of players available to MoN in either the midfield or attacking areas of our finalised 25man European squad, especially when you start filling in the blanks?
Personally would regard Saracchi as a much better option than potentially Taylor imo?
But as a result, would make filling in that blank on our homegrown requirements, a potential harder place to fill elsewhere?
And reduce the quality factor elsewhere within our squad as a result imo?
Would make more sense, at looking at the decisions MoN is facing and having to decide upon?
Before this throwing up names of players to fill positions, but leaves ourselves with a totally unbalanced squad for a European campaign imo?
Can’t believe they did not sign Saracchi Tierney is a maximum 60 min player
He is injury prone after burning his body with poor man management over the years . Saracchi was so underused last season it was amazing to see his energy commitment and vision when called upon
CCV is another who has lost pace and along with Trusty will get burned on a quick ball up the middle. Scales is more reliable and best header of the ball but again not blessed with pace
I would be bringing in at least one or 2 CDs and if Johnston goes – the rearguard is a mess