Celtic are set to sign Karpaty Lviv winger Maryan Shved.
Celtic look set to tie up a fourth attacking signing of the month in Karpaty Lviv winger Maryan Shved – and John Hartson has defended the move.
The Bhoys had already brought in Timothy Weah, Oliver Burke and Vakoun Issouf Bayo, but are now set to bring in another attacking player.
As reported by BBC Sport, Karpaty Lviv wide man Shved has been undergoing a medical with Celtic ahead of a proposed move to Parkhead.
Shved, 21, has been in sensational form in Ukraine this season, grabbing eight goals and three assists in 18 games for Karpaty Lviv.
Primarily a right-sided winger with pace a great left foot, Shved appears to have real potential – but Brendan Rodgers raised eyebrows with his comments about a move last week.
Rodgers told The Scottish Sun that he didn’t really know much about Shved, adding that the last thing Celtic need is another winger, but the club want to bring Shved in as one for the future.
Shved may subsequently head out on loan, but Rodgers’ comments have left some bemused at Rodgers barely even knowing who Celtic’s next signing is.
Now, ex-Celtic striker and current pundit Hartson has told the Glasgow Evening Times that he has no doubt that Gerrard has the final say on signings, dismissing any concerns that the club are signing players above Rodgers without even asking him.
“Most managers nowadays work alongside a team to identify players and Celtic are no different, but I have no doubt in my mind that Brendan Rodgers has the final say on all signings,” said Hartson. “I know he spoke about Maryan Shved last week in terms of the club signing him, but there is no way that he didn’t have the final say. Lee Congerton is there to work with Brendan and identify players that can come in and help the team, and I think at times the two of them will have been frustrated as targets have failed to arrive.”
“But I don’t think that the club would be signing players without the manager’s full say-so. Brendan has a clear plan and structure within his team, and every player that comes into the club will have to be able to thrive within that. So, I dismiss entirely the notion that there is the board on one side targeting players for a manager who may not want them. The whole operation will involve the management team, the recruitment team and the board all speaking to one another,” he added.
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