When Ange Postecoglou admitted a couple of weeks ago that he may cast his net as far and wide as Iran in pursuit of yet more bargain signings, the Celtic boss – whether intentionally or not – drew further attention to the club’s rumoured pursuit of a pocket rocket winger who averaged a goal or an assist every other game last season.
“I go beyond Japan,” Postecoglou tells Optus Sport, pointing to the success Kyogo Furuhashi, Daizen Maeda and Reo Hatate have enjoyed since swapping the J-League for Scotland.
“I think Asian players in general, there’s players from Iran and Saudi (Arabia) that you think they could play in Europe very easily. Top talents.”
Mehdi Ghayedi, an Iran international currently plying his trade in Dubai with Shabab Al Ahli, may be one of those ‘top talents’ Postecoglou is referring to.
Celtic told the UAE Pro League outfit that they were willing to pay around £3.5 million for Ghayedi in January. Only for Shabab Al Ahli to rebuff their advances in the midst of a gruelling title fight.
Things have changed since then. For the worse, as far as Ghayedi is concerned.
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According to Imna, Shabab Al Ahli will be more open to offers when the transfer window opens in the summer. In fact, they have gone as far as to transfer list a player who looks increasingly likely to move on just 12 months into the five-year deal he signed when arriving from Iranian outfit Esteghlal in August 2021.
Ghayedi, a skilful little attacking midfielder with an eye for goal and a penchant for nutmegs, was conspicuous by his absence during Tuesday’s 1-1 Asian Champions League clash with Iran-based side Foolad FC.
In fact, the 23-year-old has been left out of the matchday squad for each of Shabab Al Ahli’s last five games.
Some reports have even suggested that Ghayedi’s contract could be terminated.
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“Save the player!” cries Iranian publication Khabar Online. Many in the Asian nation are fretting Ghayedi’s future less than six months from the Qatar World Cup.
Perhaps Ange Postecoglou could be his knight in shining armour.
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