The word ‘flop’ is probably a little overused in modern football.
Celtic have certainly had their fair share of underwhelming signings themselves over the years.
But, while they never really lived up to expectations, it would maybe be a little harsh to force Sead Haksabanovic, Albian Ajeti, Gustaf Lagerbielke and co into the ‘flop’ category.
They all had their moments of course – Lagerbielke scored a late winner against Feyenoord in the Champions League last season, for instance – albeit fewer than Celtic would have imagined.
But would even the harshest of Hoops supporters go as far as to label them out-and-out disasters? Transfers with absolutely no redeeming qualities whatsoever?
Celtic once wanted £2m striker Said Hamulic
Unfortunately for Said Hamulic, the same energy is not reserved for a striker who’s dismal record over the last 18 months makes him far more difficult to defend.
According to Tuttomercatoweb, Hamulic even rebuffed Celtic’s advances when completing a £2 million move from Polish outfit Stal Mielec to Toulouse in France back in January 2023.
Now, no one can say with any certainty that Hamulic would have struggled quite as dramatically at Celtic as he has in France , not to mention during ill-fated loan spells in the Netherlands and Russia.
Given the creativity at Brendan Rodgers’ disposal, surely a man who caught Celtic’s eye after scoring nine goals 17 Ekstraklasa games for Stal Mielec would have got himself on the scoresheet at least once.
Toulouse were in contrast, a mid-table team in Ligue 1 hardly renowned for their cutting edge. Hamulic then joined a hapless Vitesse Arnhem outfit who could not buy a win – let alone a goal – before injuries restricted him to just 15 minutes of action on loan at Lokomotiv Moscow.
Still, it’s now 30 games since Hamulic’s last goal for club and country. Nearly two years since the Bosnia international found the net for Stal Mielec against Worta Poznan.
The assessment of French publication Made in Foot – even the kindest of pundits will find it difficult to disagree with the assessment of Hamulic as a ‘flop’ – rather sums up his time in France.
Zero-goal striker returns to Poland
Hamulic’s latest loan exit sees the Toulouse misfit return to the league where he made his name. The misfiring, Dutch-born 23-year-old joins Widzew Lodz in a desperate attempt to rediscover some semblance of the form which made him a man in such high demand not so long ago.
Not that Widzew Lodz coach Daniel Mysliwiec is expecting Hamulic to explode out of the blocks, both his body and his mind suffering from a damaging period where fitness and form has been increasingly difficult to come across.
“The person who has completed three training sessions is the most interesting (of our new signings),” Mysliwiec tells Sportowe Fakty of Hamulic, who may have played his last game for Toulouse due to the purchase clause in his contract.
“Said shows high quality, but he is not ready to play for us for 90 minutes.
“We are doing everything to focus on those players who gave joy in Mielec and we hope that there will be even more of it now.”
Flash forward to the summer of 2024, and Celtic are back in the market for a number nine.
Adam Idah, HITC understands, remains a target after scoring nine times in 19 games during a fine loan spell last term. The sort of numbers Hamulic can only dream of.
Celtic have thus far fallen short of Norwich City’s £8 million asking price. As such, an enquiry has now been lodged for Hearts captain and Premiership Golden Boot winner Lawrence Shankland.
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