Much like Celtic’s season as a whole, the January transfer window has been an insipid affair.
They are currently 23 points behind their fierce rivals in the race for the SPFL title and remarkably, they are yet to welcome any new players to the club.
This is a big month for the club’s hierarchy but they are only failing their supporters more.
It’s a desperate time at Parkhead but that being said, not even a couple of additions to the playing staff would bridge the current gap.
On the chalkboard
Come the summer window, Celtic could have plenty of holes to address in the squad. Odsonne Edouard continues to be linked with a move to the Premier League while Kristoffer Ajer has attracted the interest of AC Milan.
Though, they will also have to find someone to replace Mo Elyounoussi – that’s if he doesn’t pen permanent terms in Glasgow. He’s only on loan at the moment and given their lack of depth in a wide position, will need someone new.
That player could well be Karamoko Dembele’s brother – Siriki Dembele. The Hoops have been tracking the attacker since November but face increased competition for his signature. He has reportedly handed in a transfer request at Peterborough which has led to a bid for his services from Nottingham Forest.
Though, if the Bhoys stole a march in the race to sign Dembele, they could well find themselves their new Aiden McGeady.
The Irishman is undoubtedly one of the most exciting players we’ve seen in the green and white over the last 20 years, bringing unrivalled trickery and energy to the Celtic team.
In making 200 appearances for the Bhoys, McGeady scored 32 times, racking up 48 assists in the process. Furthermore, the 34-year-old won the Fans Player of the Year and became a 2x winner of the Player’s Player of the Year. If that wasn’t enough, his senior professionals voted him the best player in the Scottish Premiership for the 2007/08 campaign.
He was a brilliant winger for the Hoops, going on to create his own trick – the McGeady spin – and offering dribbling skills that not many players in Scotland could provide.
For a glimpse of what he’s offered in his career, the former Republic of Ireland international managed 2.3 dribbles per game for Spartak Moscow in the 2010/11 Champions League.
At Preston in the English Championship, he managed 2.5 dribbles an outing and then for Sunderland at the same level, he amassed a tally of 2.3 successful take-ons per match.
That’s remarkably similar to Dembele, a man currently playing his football in League One – the same division as McGeady. Just 24 years of age, the flanker – who can also play as a striker – has scored six goals.
Pivotally, though, is his ability to trick defenders and beat them with his dribbling. Described as “absolutely outstanding” by Posh manager Darren Ferguson, he has completed 2.9 dribbles a match this season.
For context, no player in the third tier of English football is more successful. The next best happens to be on 1.8 dribbles – that’s how good Dembele is.
A rampant attacker, his skills in this regard have huge similarities to McGeady. Nick Hammond may well have a chance of finally finding his successor this year.