Former Liverpool and Fulham midfielders feature in our list of possible solutions for Bhoys boss Brendan Rodgers.
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has admitted, via the club’s official website, that he tried to sign a creative midfield player ahead of Wednesday’s transfer deadline.
But even though fee-paying transfers are now off-limits until January, there is another way for Rodgers could satisfy his need in the meantime.
The following three players remain without a club and can therefore be signed at any time…
3) Zakaria Labyad
Hear that? It was the sound of a Football Manager player’s ears pricking. Labyad was once one of Europe’s most promising youngsters while at PSV Eindhoven, but has failed to live up to expectations since moving to Sporting CP four years ago. He turned it on again for Vitesse Arnhem two seasons back, but endured a rotten 2015-16 campaign at Fulham and Sporting’s reserves. Perhaps Rodgers could put a spring back in the 23-year-old’s step?
2) Mehmet Topuz
Soon to turn 33, Topuz was recently released after seven years at Fenerbahce, with whom he was a Turkish league champion on two occasions. The 16-cap Turkey international averaged a goal or assist every three-and-a-half matches in that particular competition (sounds pretty creative to me) and can play at right-back and right-midfield as well as in the middle.
1) Raul Meireles
Also leaving the Istanbul side this summer was former Chelsea and Liverpool midfielder Meireles, who departed Anfield nine months prior to Rodgers’ arrival. Tough not quite as creative as Topuz (averaging a goal or assist every five Super Lig matches), the 33-year-old boasts significantly more international caps (73 for Portugal) and has played 43 times in the Champions League proper, which is 43 more than his old Fener teammate.
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