Re: Celtic Signings - Season 2007/08

It looks like Marshall is off to Norwich - 1m transfer fee agreed and personal terms are also agreed on. It’s just waiting on Strachan’s approval.

Not sure I’m overly happy with that to be honest. His positioning has been more than suspect (especially from long range shots where he was beaten far too often). He’s 22 however and there’s plenty of learning the game left for him and agility-wise and natural ability-wise he has the talent. Plenty of work to be done with him but 1m is a decent price for Norwich.

Not much in the papers today about signings - Rigters doens’t seem to have moved forward, still the odd name mentioned here and there but not much progression on any of them.

I’d still be looking for a striker at this stage and I wouldn’t mind a winger.

Oh and Bobo is linked with a 1m move to West Brom and Doumbe looks like he might be going elsewhere. Don’t have a huge problem with either of those. Balde is on silly money at Celtic and should be moved on because we’re not getting a good return on him anymore. Before his injury his motivation had been questionable and a change might do him good anyway. Doumbe will sign for us if he’s ambitious. If he wants more money he’ll go elsewhere.

Post edited by: therock67, at: 2007/07/01 11:13

Daily Mirror and the Daily Record have very different stories on Rigters today. Strange considering they’re part of the same media group aren’t they?

Mirror first:

HUGHES TO LAND RIGTERS
By Alan Nixon 02/07/2007

BLACKBURN Rovers boss Mark Hughes is signing young Dutch striker Maceo Rigters in a bargain 350,000 deal today - ahead of rival moves by Newcastle United and Celtic.

The 23-year-old, who dazzled in the Dutch triumph at the Under-21 European Championship, will check in for Rovers after accepting that they were the best career move.

Hughes is looking for extra firepower and the NAC Breda star - who scored a spectacular overhead goal against England - fits in with his plans at home and abroad.

Rigters was also chased by Sam Allardyce and Gordon Strachan, but the chance to play in Blackburn’s first team and be part of their European campaign was the main reason to pick Rovers.

Hughes could be moving out a couple of strikers this summer and Rigters may get the opportunity to shine, with the knockdown fee also an appealing factor for the Lancashire club.

Record:

Norwich City are Celtic’s sole rivals for Maceo Rigters, although the NAC Breda striker favours a move to Parkhead.

Rigters is available for a knockdown fee of 400,000 and impressed for Holland at the recent European Under 21 Championship.

Blackburn Rovers, Newcastle United and Rangers have all been linked with the forward, while NAC confirmed Celtic made an approach last week.

The Scottish champions are due to hold talks with the player in the coming days and currently only have to fend off interest from Norwich to add Rigters to their list of summer signings.

“I would hope to be in Glasgow on Monday and make a final agreement with Celtic,” the pacey attacker’s agent Tom Smit told the Daily Record.

"It is my hope that we can agree a deal soon. If I can’t get into Scotland right away I’ll be there on Tuesday.

“There are no other clubs involved apart from Norwich, but Celtic are way ahead.”

NAC are resigned to Rigters quitting the club and will leave a decision in the hands of the 23-year-old, who has been unhappy at not playing in his preferred position at his current club.

Theo Mommers, NAC’s general director, said: "I think now it is accepted he will not be staying.

“There are clubs interested and it is now up to Maceo to make a choice.”

Mirror and Record are both part of the Trinity Mirror group. Breakingnews.ie and Rte.ie are both indicating he will be joining Celtic. He appears to be a good player.

I remember that last few days of the transfer window last season. Sitting there at my desk hitting refresh on a load of Celtic forums and waiting for news of signings. This season it appears we’ll have all our business done well in advance of the champions league qualifier. I like what I have seen of Rigters so far (albeit only 2 or 3 U-21 appearances) and I think he has definite potential. I would like to see a couple of players going out in the other direction - Miller etc.

I think Strachan learned from Bratislava that the new players need time to settle and get involved with training so we’re trying to get everyone involved early this year.

I too was impressed with Rigters. He’s 23 now but that’s still young and most guys in that tournament were of that sort of age.

Rigters has signed for Balckburn. Not too disappointed. I’m sure we have other irons in the fire. He does look a good player though.

I was just about to post that - seems my sources aren’t as quick as yours. Not too displeased - he looks promising but also looks similar to McDonald. I hope and presume we are still after a striker and still intend on cashing in on the Beat and/or Miller.

Surely that is quiet disappointing? Did he not look class during the U21 Championship? Always thought a Dutch striker would have found Celtic more appealing than an average EPL club. With the recent Dutch players who have played for us or the Huns you would have thought he would have been aware of the size of the club. Strachan doesn’t seem to want to persuade some young players to join Celtic if other clubs are in for them. It looked a near cert that he wanted to join us yesterday. Reminds me a bit of the Stokes situation.

it said on the radio he wanted to be gauranteed 1st team football

He never even got as far as speaking to Celtic so I’d say he was just lured to the EPL by the promise of big bucks. It’s a bit disappointing but anyone who chooses Blackburn over Celtic is either after money or doesn’t think they’re good enough to play for Celtic regularly.

Were we definitely interested in him? Seems a very odd choice for him to make. How would he have known we wouldn’t pay him as much as Blackburn and that he wouldn’t get a run in the team if he didn’t even speak to Strachan/Lawell. Reminds me a bit of gerrardno1 going to Trinity when he knew he wouldn’t get 90 minutes with PFC.

We were certainly interested alright. There were too many reports with direct quotes from his agent and NAC Breda to suggest otherwise. Also we sometimes deny these stories when they’re not true and we didn’t say anything this time.

It was odd timing alright in that he didn’t even speak to Celtic but you have to remember the agent will:
a) presumably make more money from a transfer to Blackburn
http://www.thefreekick.com/board/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cool.gif prefer to open up contacts in the EPL than the SPL

Beat to WBA for 1.75m and Marshall to Norwich for 1m both look like thy’re happening today.

Decent piece of business. Never going to get much more than that for the two of them though if I were a WBA or Norwich fan I’d also be happy.

The Beat might be sensational at WBA or he might be useless. Much depends on his fitness because when he gets a run of games he can be superb.

Marshall is a good signing for anyone. He’s young and talented. There was just no point in Celtic keeping him when we have Boruc.

Celtic never bid for Rigters afaik - just registered an interest. We couldn’t/didn’t guarantee him first team football so he went to Balckburn. As I say I’m not pushed - I’d prefer a proven partner for Jan rather than someone with a bit of potential. Rocko and Raven are different though as we know when they embarrassingly tried to claim the potential signing of Mark McAllister as being a good one.

Beat is 1.25m now with 500k coming based on success, appearances etc. A good fee to get for someone whose hamstrings are made of plastic.

From breakingnews.ie:

Blades launch Gravesen move
04/07/2007 - 08:43:31

Celtic midfielder Thomas Gravesen is wanted by Sheffield United and could be replaced at Parkhead by Liverpools Adam Hammill.

United boss Bryan Robson has confirmed his interest in signing Denmark international Gravesen, whose performances after arriving from Real Madrid last August failed to match Celtics expectations.

The 31-year-old former Everton player would have to weigh up the merits of a transfer, likely to be a loan, to the Coca-Cola Championship club who yesterday lost their legal challenge against the Premier League after an arbitration panel dismissed their claim over the Carlos Tevez affair.

But if Gravesen is willing, Celtic may be ready to let one of their big earners leave.

Robson said: I have an interest in Thomas Gravesen and would like to bring him to Sheffield United.

We are in discussions with Celtic over the issue and, hopefully, we can sort out some kind of agreement with them.

Im not sure if I can persuade Thomas to come here but Id like to have the chance to speak to him.

Liverpools 19-year-old winger Hammill spent the second half of last season on loan at Dunfermline, during which time he was known to have impressed Celtic.

Now Hammill claims Gordon Strachans side have made an approach to sign him for the upcoming campaign.

He told The Sun: My agent has been in touch with Celtic and I know about the interest.

They are a very big club and it is exciting for me personally that there is talk of Celtic which proves I did really well in Scotland.

I’m not sure Tommy would be happy to move to the Championship. Disappointing season for him last year and while we’ve lost Lennon we’ve added Donati and Brown to the centre of the park. So we have Sno, Hartley, Donati, Brown, Jarosik. Gravesen would bring a level of CL experience that the others are lacking (other than Jarosik) but other than that he’s probably surplus to our needs.

Hammill looked reasonable - I do think we’re short a winger. Seemed a bit lightweight though in that he started every game well but I presume he got a couple of kicks and he tended to drift out of them. No harm in having a look at him but I wouldn’t be breaking the bank or overly concerned either way.

Marshall has completed his move to Norwich for an undisclosed fee.

Good luck to the lad. What a performance in the Nou Camp and his league debut against the huns was a bit special as well.

I see Motherwell are also interested in a loan deal for Virgo. That would make sense for everyone I think. Give us the chance to evaluate him in the SPL and he gets game time.

Good luck to Marshall and The Beat.

Glad to see the fees starting to come in for those surplus to requirements.

Game tomorrow night live on Setanta Sports 1.