Celtic’s transfer plans have been left in the dust this summer by the ongoing managerial saga at Parkhead.
The Hoops are on the verge of appointing Ange Postecoglou but it has now been over three months since Neil Lennon vacated his position at Celtic.
On the chalkboard
One player who Postecoglou may not have the privilege of managing next season is Moi Elyounoussi.
The Norwegian was the club’s second top scorer this term on 17 strikes but is heading back to Southampton with a permanent move to Paradise extremely unlikely.
A fee of £5m was touted for his services but it would appear that Celtic are favouring to spend their money on other areas of the squad.
You can hardly blame that point of view when you consider his dismal end to the campaign.
Elyounoussi scored only three goals in his final 16 league outings of the campaign, registering just three assists in that time frame as well.
The replacement
Celtic were interested in signing FC Utrecht forward Gyrano Kerk last year.
A move never materialised but with the Hoops searching for an Elyounoussi alternative in the coming weeks, they should consider reviving their pursuit.
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Kerk was in red hot form for the Eredivisie side this term, scoring nine goals and registering seven assists while playing out wide and through the middle as a central striker.
That’s something Elyounoussi did to good effect while playing for Celtic in 2020/21, operating in tandem with Odsonne Edouard on a regular basis.
Like the Norway international, Kerk is capable of beating the goalkeeper with great regularity. He’s racked up 42 strikes in his 173 outings for Utrecht.
What’s most appealing about the Dutchman is his mazy dribbling ability. No player completed more than his 112 dribbles in the Eredivisie this campaign, performing them at a rate of 3.3 per game.
In replacing Elyounoussi, that statistic is vital. A tricky footed individual, the attacker had the ability to torment defenders at times.
What's also intriguing about his game is the raw pace he possesses. Voetbal International hailed his finest qualities in expert fashion; "Kerk is a speed demon who always creates danger in the final third. When Kerk is on the moped, there is hardly any defender that can keep up with him."
That viewpoint was matched by former striker Robin van Persie who was effusive in his praise: "Kerk is a player who basically has everything. He is fast, has vision, is technical and can score."
Kerk’s value has likely increased after such a fabulous season but it’s worth Celtic enquiring about his ability.