Celtic have had a disastrous campaign in 2020/21 and they owe much of that to last summer’s transfer window.
Although the Bhoys managed to keep hold of Odsonne Edouard, their investment was particularly shoddy.
The £4.5m arrival of Vasilis Barkas has not been fruitful with Scott Bain replacing him in goal pretty swiftly. Shedding £5m for Albian Ajeti also has to be questioned. The Swiss forward looked in good form in the opening few months of the campaign but he’s only hit six goals all term.
One player who should be hailed, though, is David Turnbull.
The 21-year-old has been a breath of fresh air and has consistently turned in productive performances despite poor results.
He arrived from Motherwell for a bargain price of just £3m and has so far been worth every penny.
Capable of playing out wide or through the middle, the attacking midfielder has had a hand in nine goals and seven assists throughout his debut campaign at Paradise.
Turnbull feels like a player who could be at the top of the Scottish game for a while to come and if and when a new manager is finally appointed, he must build the team around him.
Turning to the very best talent in Scotland is a strategy Celtic should look to utilise again this term in order to lure St Mirren’s Jamie McGrath to Parkhead.
That idea was put forward by the club’s manager Jim Goodwin last week. Aberdeen are reportedly ready to move for McGrath but according to Goodwin, he should go to the Hoops.
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He said: “For me, Jamie McGrath is a Celtic player. I look at some of the lads who are there now, like David Turnbull, Callum McGregor and Ryan Christie. I can see Jamie being among that level. I don’t want him leaving and going down to League One in England because they might double his money.”
McGrath has been exceptional this term and has played in a multitude of positions from left wing-back to centre-forward and midfield.
It’s in the middle of the park where the Irishman looks most comfortable but versatility isn’t the only desirable trait he’d take with him to Celtic.
Like Turnbull, his vision is exquisite; registering 1.6 key passes a game in the Premiership this term. The stand out point of the 24-year-old’s game is the way he scores goals.
Similarly to the Celtic star, McGrath also knows where the back of the net is. He’s popped up with 15 strikes in all competitions this term (10 penalties) and now has a trio of goals in his last three outings.
The St Mirren star appears to be a jack of all trades and is very competent defensively. Throughout the current campaign, he has recorded 1.3 tackles per game, the same number as Scott Brown.
Crucially, he could be a viable replacement in the middle of the park for when Brown leaves. After all, Goodwin seems to think his mentality matches up.
“Jamie’s a very intelligent and level-headed young man, and he won’t be influenced by the first decent offer,” the St Mirren boss commented.
“He’s got an inner belief and knows how good he’s capable of being. He’s by no means the finished article. He’s at a great age, two or three years before he hits his prime,” Goodwin added.
McGrath has everything you lust after when looking at a midfielder. He can score, create and tackle. Dominic McKay simply has to sign him.