Last week, Ange Postecoglou admitted to Sky Sports that that Celtic were ‘still keen to bring maybe one or two’ new signings before the transfer window closes on September 1st.
What the Hoops supporters might not have expected, however, is that one of those would be a wide forward. Another one. The fact that Liel Abada and James Forrest started on the bench during the 5-0 thumping of Kilmarnock last time out – as Daizen Maeda, Kyogo Furuhashi and the magical Jota sparkled at Rugby Park – is a reflection of the quality and quantity already at Postecoglou’s disposal across the final third.
And that’s without mentioning Mikey Johnston.
So reports suggesting that Sead Haksabanovic could undergo a medical at Celtic before the week is out then, have raised plenty of eyebrows. And not just because the Premiership champions apparently turned down the chance to sign the former West Ham United youngster earlier in the summer.
Where will Sead Haksabanovic fit in at Celtic?
One things for sure, there can be no doubts about Haksabanovic’s talent, potential or game-changing ability
“He has been fantastic,” the 23-year-old’s former IFK Norrkoping manager Rikard Norling told Expressen while Haksabanovic was enjoying a run of 27 goals or assists in just 39 games.
“It is one thing to see (his talent) from a distance, and another to see it on a daily basis. It has been a joy to have him. He’s an incredibly skilled football player.”
He’s a versatile one too. Haksabanovic, throughout his nomadic career, has played most frequently on the left, cutting inside to often devastating effect with his right foot. But he’s also filled in on the right, through the middle, as a striker, an attacking midfielder and even in a deep-lying role on occasions.
“I like Sead coming in off the left in a 4-3-3,” another of his former coaches – Jan Jonsson – tells The Sun. “He can be very effective in that area. But it all depends on the formation Celtic play. He is also very good as a No 10.”
A decision for Ange Postecoglou to make
Celtic, during the Ange Postecoglou era, have set up a 4-3-3 system – or a variation of it – most of the time. Haksabanovic, then, looks well-suited to the left-sided role. Perhaps he could slot in there, with Jota taking over the right flank on a more regular basis.
Should Haksabanovic thrive in Scotland – the £4 million-rated Montenegro international has thrived before in leagues of a similar quality – then Abada might have to get used to life on the sidelines over the next couple of months. A selection headache, maybe, but one most managers would love to have.
Haksabanovic, as Jonsson points out, can also be ‘very good as a number ten’. Celtic don’t tend to play with an orthadox playmaker under Postecoglou, however, so a wide role looks more likely. Then again, maybe the Celtic boss sees a future for the Sweden-born schemer in one of his dual number eight role. In the mould of Tom Rogic, perhaps.
‘Perfect for him’
“I feel he now needs to move again. And Celtic would be the perfect club for him,” adds Jonsson, who worked with a teenage Haksabanovic at Halmstads BK. “It’s a big club with Champions League football this season. And it would really suit his strengths.”
“Creative players will enjoy (Postecoglou’s) way of playing. And I know Sead would enjoy it. For me, it would be the ideal place and the ideal coach for the next stage of his development.
“Sead is a good player and a great character. He has the talent to go and be a success at Celtic, if it happens.”
Happen, it will. Haksabanovic wants to leave Rubin Kazan after their relegation from the Russian Premier League. He’s spent much of the summer keeping himself fit with former club Djurgardens, who’s sporting director confirmed this week that there is indeed ‘interest from Celtic’.
If all goes to plan, he could be at Parkhead in time for Sunday’s clash with Dundee United. Either on the pitch or in the stands.
So it’s not really a question of where Haksabanovic will be playing – speaking geographically – 2022/23. Where he will be playing on the pitch, however, is an altogether different issue.
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