Celtic have made an interesting move this week, bringing in Gavin Strachan as first-team coach following Damien Duff’s exit.
Duff has returned to Ireland, leaving Neil Lennon with a hole to fill in his staff. He has gone with Strachan, who was working as Darren Ferguson’s assistant at Peterborough United.
Strachan’s father Gordon was Lennon’s Celtic boss between 2005 and 2007, and having the ability to follow in his father’s footsteps was surely a major draw for Strachan.
The 41-year-old will now attempt to improve the Celtic squad, but could be also have an impact on the club’s potential transfer activity this summer?
Earlier this year, the Daily Record reported that Celtic had been scouting Peterborough hitman Ivan Toney. Earlier this month, Peterborough director of football Barry Fry told The Scottish Daily Mail (9 June, page 79) that Celtic were in for Toney again.
Fry quoted the price tag as £15million then, which is rather ambitious for a third-tier striker and given the financial impact of the global pandemic.
Still, if Celtic were looking for an advantage in the race for Toney, it could come with Strachan. Celtic’s new man has worked with Toney day in and day out on the training ground, helping him develop into a star goalscorer.
If Toney has a number of options to choose from, reuniting with Strachan could just give the Bhoys an upper hand over the competition.
The 24-year-old has hit 49 goals in 94 games for the Posh, including 26 this past season, and Celtic could look to target him if they lose their own star striker, Odsonne Edouard, this summer.
With Strachan on board, the rumours of Toney heading to Parkhead may just intensify.
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