talkSPORT pundit defends Rangers and Celtic interests amid Dele Alli and Ross Barkley talk
Rangers and Celtic are not a dumping ground for failed English Premier League players, according to talkSPORT pundit Gabby Agbonlahor.
Former England international Dele Alli looks set for a surprise exit from Everton after just seven months, with Turkish side Besiktas pushing, after struggling to impose himself under Frank Lampard, and Gers legend Ally McCoist suggest he would take him at Ibrox “all day” [talkSPORT].
But amid Aaron Ramsay’s failed loan move to Glasgow last season, and the mooted switch of misfit Chelsea midfielder Ross Barkley to Parkhead [GiveMeSport], former Aston Villa striker Agbonlahor doesn’t think the Old Firm should be expected to accommodate unwanted players leaving England.
Speaking on talkSPORT on Wednesday morning (17 August), in a clip posted to their Twitter feed: “Is it fair on Rangers and Celtic to accept players who are struggling in the Premier League?
“It’s getting harder and harder now to play at Rangers and Celtic.
“Barkley, Ramsey when he’s come, and even Dele Alli, I don’t think it’s fair for Rangers and Celtic to be like, ‘Okay come to us then’.
“You know, if it’s not working out in the Prem, ‘All right, we’ll have you’.”
Growth
It’s probably accurate to say that McCoist has been blinded by the prospect of the Tottenham version of Dele turning up in Glasgow.
Everton were hoping they could get that as well, and whatever the reason for the 26-year-old’s decline from being a two-time PFA young player of the year winner, which is surely more complicated than often speculated, it hasn’t happened yet.
With the amount of options that Giovanni van Bronckhorst has at his disposal in exactly the areas that the one-time star prefers to operate there is really no space for him anyway, let alone as a rebuilding project.
And the experience with Ramsey should show that there is usually a reason that big names are available, as the injury issues that wrecked his time at Juventus carried over to his spell in a Light Blue shirt.
From a Gers point of view, Celtic can do what they want and should they sign a player who doesn’t help them that is all the better for Ibrox fans, but the point stands that not every former star from south of the border can rock up in Glasgow and waltz through the league.
The Bears continued to hold their own against top sides from Europe with a 2-2 draw against PSV in the first leg of their Champions League playoff on Tuesday night (16 August), and if they are to add players still they need to be ones that actually fit into the squad for a defined purpose.
In other Rangers news, a multi-million deal is nearing in London that raises the prospect of a first-team Gers player could find himself as part of a £100million shopping spree.