Ange Postecoglou certainly knows how to keep Celtic fans hanging on his every word.
Before The Hoops’ home clash with Livingston on December 21st, the straight-talking Aussie admitted that the Premiership champions were ‘pretty close’ to unveiling their third signing of the winter window already. Some going, given that the market doesn’t even open for another few days. Oh Ange, you tease.
But who is the identity of that mystery man? And, after bringing in Alistair Johnston and Yuki Kobayashi, which other new faces can Celtic supporters expect to see plying their trade at Parkhead in 2023?
Here are three players we think Postecoglou will try to sign in the New Year.
Cho Gue-Sung – Jeonbuk Motors
Greek striker Giorgios Giakamoukis might still be under contract until 2026 in Glasgow. But, with talks over a new and improved deal hitting the buffers (Daily Record), Celtic look set to be forced into the market for a new centre-forward. Finding one capable of replicating Giakoumakis’ outstanding goals-per-game record won’t be easy. But nor is it impossible.
Postecoglou’s Celtic have already enjoyed real success in the Asian market, landing Kyogo Furuhashi, Reo Hatate and Daizen Maeda before returning for the aforementioned Kobayashi. Cho Gue-Sung is another who will be familiar to Postecoglou, having found the net against his Yokohama F Marinos outfit in the Asian Champions League.
Cho does that a lot; find the net. He was the Korean League’s Golden Boot winner in 2022, and also scored twice for his country at the Qatar World Cup. An impressive link-man, a willing runner and a scorer of great goals as well as a great goalscorer; Cho arguably has more strings to his bow than the prolific but rather one-dimensional Giakoumakis.
“Thanks to the love of many people, the opportunity (to move to Europe) seems to be coming. I will coordinate it and talk about it,” Cho said recently. “The most important thing is to be able to play, rather than having a specific club you want. A player is at his coolest when he is playing.
“I want to go.”
Aissa Laidouni – Ferencvaros
Another hitherto little-known player who, like Cho Gue-Sung, seized the opportunity to showcase his talents to a wider audience in Qatar. The rangy, deep-lying midfielder impressed even as Tunisia bowed out at the group-stage, catching the eye in a 1-0 win over an admittedly-below-strength France side.
Laidouni, during two years at Ferencvaros, has lifted three trophies, and was even named the Hungarian league’s Player of the Year for 2021. He’s certainly got that winning mentality. Ferencvaros will not stand in his way should Celtic firm up their interest either (FootMercato). The club’s president has already admitted that he plans to cash in on the £3.5 million-rated enforcer.
For far too long, Celtic have limped along without an obvious back-up to talismanic skipper Callum McGregor. Matt O’Riley is more effective further forward. James McCarthy looks ill-suited to Postecoglou’s fast-paced game-plan. And Rubin Kazan loanee Oliver Abildgaard is merely a short-term quick fix.
Laidouni’s tenacity, power, ball-carrying ability and technical prowess, however, could help to ease the near-crushing burden resting on McGregor’s shoulders.
Ivan Fresneda – Real Valladolid
The highly-rated Spain U19 international has a £26 million release clause in his contract. His array of suitors, meanwhile, reads like a ‘who’s who’ of European powerhouses; Barcelona, Juventus, Manchester United, a Saudi-funded Newcastle. Few would give Celtic much hope of winning the race for Fresneda’s highly-coveted signature, then (Estadio Desmarque).
But, as Fresneda’s former Valladolid team-mate Jota will attest to, there are few finer destinations for a talented young player brimming with potential. Despite already landing Canada’s Alistair Johnson, Celtic may be in the market for another new right-back with Josip Juranovic expected to depart sooner rather than later.
Celtic, unlike many of Fresneda’s other suitors, can offer guaranteed first-team football, and the chance to grow under a coach renowned for youth development. It remains be seen, however, how much Valladolid want, with Fresneda perhaps expected to leave for a fraction of that near-£30 million release clause.
“We have to be prepared for what comes. We are clear about our policy as a club,” explains Pucella director Fran Sanchez.
“In the end, we have to have the best competitive team possible. And that happens through two things. The first, and most important, is that the team performs so that it stays in La Liga. And the second part, which is being able to sell players.
“Fresneda has exquisite behaviour. He is a boy with incredible maturity and on the pitch. He is proving himself to be a first division player. If we sell him or not depends on the offer.”
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