Ally McCoist believes Celtic could be landing a dangerous striker in Dominic Calvert-Lewin, if they can keep him fit.
The former Rangers forward weighed in on speculation linking the ex-Everton frontman with a switch to Glasgow, and admitted he’s wary of the potential impact the striker could make in the Scottish Premiership.
The 28-year-old is currently a free agent following his departure from Everton, bringing an end to a nine-year spell on Merseyside. He notched 71 goals in 273 appearances after a £1.5 million move from Sheffield United, but his time at Goodison Park was increasingly disrupted by recurring injury problems.
Calvert-Lewin’s standout spell came in the 2020/21 campaign when he netted 33 goals in all competitions. Since then, however, the English forward has struggled to stay fit, managing just three goals in 26 outings last season before another injury saw him ruled out for nearly five months.
Despite those issues, McCoist reckons Brendan Rodgers could be the man to get the best out of him in Scotland, though he stopped short of fully endorsing the idea, with a cheeky nod to his Rangers allegiance.
He said: (talkSPORT), “I tell you right now, it’s fitness—it’s fitness for me. You get him on the pitch and he would absolutely do well for Celtic, there is no doubt about it.
“Pacy, good in the air, score you goals—just a question mark over fitness, that’s all I’ve got.”
Host Jeff Stelling added: “I think it’s an absolute no-brainer. No-brainer. They are getting him on a free transfer, OK the wages will be big, but we know he can play.
“And I think it’s a good move for him. He will score goals there, regain his confidence, play European football—and I am not being disrespectful to Celtic because it’s a massive club—but in a couple of years’ time, get back in the Premier League.”
McCoist followed up with a dig in jest: “I just want to see him fit, and I just want to see him play, not too well if he goes to Celtic I may add.”
Calvert-Lewin, who has 11 England caps to his name, confirmed his Everton exit earlier this month in a social media post, describing it as a “difficult decision” to leave the club where he became a household name.
“After nine remarkable years I’ve made the incredibly difficult decision—together with my family—to begin a new chapter in my career,” he wrote on Instagram.
“This isn’t something I chose lightly. Everton has been my home since I was 19 years old. It’s the place that saw potential in me, challenged me to grow and shaped me both as a footballer and as a man.
“I want to express my gratitude to all the managers and coaches I’ve worked with over the years and to my team-mates who have become life-long friends.”
Whether Celtic make a concrete move remains to be seen, but the free agent status of Calvert-Lewin puts him firmly on the radar of clubs looking for quality without a transfer fee. With Champions League qualifiers on the horizon, Rodgers may be tempted by the potential upside.
Fitness remains the biggest question mark, and Celtic have had their fingers burned before when gambling on players with patchy injury records. But if the Englishman can rediscover the form that made him one of the Premier League’s most feared finishers, it could prove a smart bit of business.
McCoist’s comments, while half in jest, speak to the threat Calvert-Lewin could pose at Parkhead. Rangers fans would no doubt prefer to see him take his goals elsewhere.
