Celtic are interested in former Hibs striker Kieron Bowie, with it being suggested that the club are willing to part with big money to lure the 23 year old back Scotland…
To do so, they will need to beat off competition from several Serie A clubs, but in my opinion we should go all in to land the Scotland international who impressed in the Italian top fight despite Hellas Verona’s relegation to Serie B.
At 6ft 2in tall, Bowie is a physical presence, but he’s also tidy on the ball, and knows the way to goal, so he’s literally a Martin O’Neill type target man.
Knowing the Scottish footballing environment is also a big plus, and being Scottish he adds to the home grown quota requirements implemented by UEFA in regard to European match day squads.
The 23 year old is a player we know well having seen him at close quarters during his time at Hibs, indeed the club were credited with an interest in the player last January, but where perhaps put off by the price tag.
Hellas Verona weren’t, paying £5 million for Bowie and are now reaping the rewards as they now look to double their money on the player.
Bowie who cut his teeth at Raith Rovers before heading south to Fulham, and numerous loan spells at English lower tier clubs, has added a new edge to his game whilst competing in the tough environment that is Serie A.
Will Celtic be willing to pay upwards of £10 million for a player they could have signed for half the cost just a short few months ago?
I have my reservations, but for me it would be money well spent as along with new signing Camilo Duran, he’d be an upgrade to our striking department, and under the guidance of Martin O’Neill would in time become a superb footballer for Celtic.
The downside would be the happy clapping Board loyalists bemoaning the reckless expenditure to pile the pressure on the player as happened with Adam Idah, who also was available for a much lower price but Celtic preferred a loan deal rather than a £3m purchase.
Idah’s goals helped win us the league before he scored the winner in the last minute of the Scottish Cup final, meaning Norwich were able to extract the maximum possible fee for the big Irish striker.
Just an Ordinary Bhoy
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2 Comments
Personally wouldn’t have any issues with signing Bowie?
At present it looks like we might have 7 of our homegrown quota filled within our 25man squad at present?
But that gets reduced if the speculation upon the future of Calmac grows?
It’s shocking that our club, been the most successful and dominate in Scottish football, is still struggling in an area of the squad building process? That accounts for nearly a third of our 25man European squad?
Hardly helped by the ignorance on show towards Scottish players in general?
Looking for more European success, and keeping Scottish football dominance intact, won’t be achieved, until this area of our squad is addressed imo?
Not able to fill the 8 places available within the squad, is a total embarrassing situation, that our club could find itself in, and should never be in existence either imo?
No problem with the likes of Donovan being regarded as a B listed player, and hopefully is joined by a few others this season, especially with a potential pathway getting formed eventually, for ourselves in that regards?
Even so, we still require more quality available in this area of our squad building process, especially for the prospect of European competitions?
We still need at least 4 of the 8 to be considered as able to produce and contribute at European level, especially if we are looking to make inroads into CL levels, it’s as simple as that really?
2 players for each position, with a 3rd choice keeper, having to be Scottish also, is where we are, within the 25man European squad building process?
So not a lot of room available, especially with looking for flexibility within that 25man squad also?
Personally would regard McCowan and forrest, with Doohan as our excess players, upon the 2 options for each position available imo?
Ralston/Donovan as backup in the RB slot, with Murray regarded as a backup for CCV, where Trusty would be considered ahead of him in the selection process also?
So only really Calmac, with an uncertain future, and a potential injury prone Tierney is our only starters in operation at present?
That is not good enough to seriously consider a CL campaign, with such a reliance upon other starting positions, especially without not enough competition for those starting roles either?
There is way too much of overlooking the current situation going on, with the dismissing of Scottish players going on, within our squad building process, for my liking?
Even the scum are looking at such an approach to just try and win an SPFL title?
We are far better than that, where we should have more Scottish players capable of producing at European levels, where there shouldn’t be an issue to produce within the SPFL for ourselves?
Bowie, I believe could well improve ourselves in that regards hugely imo?
If it costs ourselves extra money, then so be it, especially as we are struggling so badly to produce from within our club?
Surprised Millers name hasn’t cropped up yet this window, especially with the growing speculation surrounding Calmac at present?
But could well become another name that we might have to be prepared to pay big money upon at some stage also?
The Italians are exposing a situation that exists within Scottish football, with able to offer better development than what Scottish football can do?
Scottish football has left itself wide open to be exposed upon the current situation?
But our own supporters can also contribute to the situation also, especially if we continue with back tracking upon the fees that might be involved now?
This Celtic quality nonsense, is exactly nonsense, when it plays such an important part, within nearly a third of our 25man European squad imo?
Cannae see it happening.
But why did we not sign him when he wis at Hibs?