Ange Postecoglou is encouraging Celtic to bring in Australia international Aaron Mooy this summer, with Eurosport claiming a deal for Crystal Palace star James McCarthy could now fall by the wayside.
While the former Central Coast Mariners boss has indicated he’ll scour every corner of the globe for new signings, it seems he will look a little closer to home in reality.
According to The Star, Postecoglou believes a series of underwhelming overseas arrivals haven’t done Celtic much good. Vasilis Barkas, Hatem Abd Elhamed, Boli Bolingoli, Vakoun Issouf Bayo and co have made next to no impact at a club that finished 25 points behind Old Firm rivals Rangers last season.
Postecoglou thinks a Celtic side with a sturdy base of proven, British-based talent would be a far more dangerous beast, with Sheffield United right-back George Baldock emerging as one of his top targets.
And while Mooy is plying his trade in China these days, the probing little playmaker has a fine track record in the UK, shining during spells at Brighton and Hove Albion and Huddersfield Town.
Pep Guardiola even described Mooy as “amazing” in 2017, at a time when Mooy was pulling the strings for Huddersfield during his loan spell from Manchester City.
Will Aaron Mooy and Postecoglou reunite at Celtic?
The Sydney-born 30-year-old would suit Postecoglou’s possession-based principles down to the ground too.
The way he thrived under Graham Potter at Brighton suggests Mooy will have no problem adapting to life at Celtic, especially when you consider he’s already au fait with Postecoglou’s style following their time together in the Australian national team.
According to Eurosport, the Glasgow giants are also looking at James McCarthy, the Celtic-mad Ireland international whose Crystal Palace contract is due to expire on Thursday.
Postecoglou has put Mooy’s name right at the top of his summer wish-list, however, with McCarthy now very much a back-up option.
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