Former Celtic forward Derek Riordan believes Wolves’ Premier League playmaker Daniel Podence would be a ‘brilliant signing’ for the Scottish champions.
If the one-time Scotland international could choose between two potential attacking additions – Wolves’ number ten not the only Premier League-based player linked with a move north of the border – Riordan insists that one stands out head and shoulders above the other, as far as Celtic are concerned.
Ryan Fraser, at only 29 years of age, still has a lot of oil left in the tank. And, having barely kicked a ball over the last 12 months at a Newcastle United outfit who appear to have left him by the wayside, Fraser would return to his homeland with an almighty point to prove.
But Fraser, Riordan tells Glasgow Live, pales in comparison to Daniel Podence.
“That would be a brilliant signing,” says the two-time Scottish Premiership champion. “I think (Podence) would be really good in Scotland.
“I don’t think they need Fraser. They’ve already got Liel Abada out on the right side. He’s an Abada-type player, but I think Podence is excellent.”
Celtic eye Wolves ace Daniel Podence
Celtic, as Riordan alludes to, are not short of speedy widemen. In addition to Abada, Brendan Rodgers also has Daizen Maeda, James Forrest, Yang Hyun-Jun and Marco Tilio. There is Mikey Johnston too, back from an excellent spell in Portugal.
Podence, however, would give Celtic a different sort of threat in the final third. More of a natural ‘number ten’ than a touchline-hugging winger, Wolves’ £17 million Portugal international would see Celtic – linked via Sky Sports – land a potentially game-changing player at the peak of his powers.
“I think he’s decent. He’s great on the ball and tricky,” Riordan adds. He can play in the hole and can also cut in from the outside.”
Sky add that Wolves want around £12 million for Podence. Such a demand would require a club-record fee from Celtic.
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