Former Celtic striker Scott McDonald has fired the club a transfer warning, saying that ‘lessons must be learned’ and reiterates the point of how important it is to find a ‘proper number nine’ to lead the line.
Speaking to the Sunday Post, McDonald hopes that the club can learn from some of the mistakes made during last summer’s transfer window in signing the likes of Vasilias Barkas and Albian Ajeti.
“Lessons need to be learned from last summer.
“Celtic had two excellent goalkeepers in Fraser Forster and Craig Gordon. For various reasons, both didn’t sign on again.
“The club also searched for a striker, and Toney appeared to be their No. 1 target.
“I remember watching him two or three years ago for Peterborough against Middlesbrough, and he really caught my eye.
“He had presence and pace. He looked to have the raw materials to go a long way.
“When Celtic were linked with him, I was excited. There was no doubt in my mind he’d do well. But a fee couldn’t be agreed and he went to Brentford. That was a blow.
“Look at how well he is doing in the English Championship, so it’s a sore one to miss out on.
“The club ended up getting Ajeti, but it’s not been a great season for the Swiss striker. He has been in and out.
“So we know how hard it is to find a proper No. 9. It will not be easy to find one.
“Indeed, Celtic might be looking for two strikers in the summer window if Leigh Griffiths and Odsonne Edouard follow Patryk Klimala, another disappointment this season, out the door. It makes it all the harder.
“Leigh scored a good goal against Aberdeen in midweek, and that will have done his case no harm.
“But he has just eight goals in 26 appearances this season, and Celtic must find someone who will get them at least 20 goals a season.
“A Celtic striker is judged on numbers, the amount of times he puts the ball in the net. He’s not judged on performances.”
This summer, recruitment will be absolutely crucial as we approach a new era of the club.
The striker position will clearly need work with the likes of Patryk Klimala and Odsonne Edouard departing the club, add to that the uncertainty around the future of both Leigh Griffiths & Ajeti going forward.
So, we could potentially be seeing three or four new attackers come to the club or have to make the step up.
Unfortunately, we have a lot of positions needing just as much focus across the park too within this squad, so transfer dealings much be shrewd and spot on going into the summer transfer window. As McDonald says, lessons must be learned.
