Ange Postecoglou to bang on door of Celtic boardroom as Rangers threaten to derail transfer plan
Rangers are threatening to derail Celtic’s January transfer plans as they join the race to sign Bristol City forward Antoine Semenyo.
Top African journalist, Edmund Okai Gyimah, wrote on the Sports World Ghana website that the Bears are preparing a bid in the region of £5million to sign the centre-forward, who is a long-term target of Celtic.
The Ghana international would be available for free next summer and there’s very little logic in shelling out such a big transfer fee in January, especially for someone who doesn’t boast a great scoring record – 13 goals in 115 games.
If Ange Postecoglou really wants to get the player, he will have to request the board to hand him over £5million to sign Semenyo in January. Bristol City could sense this as an opportunity to increase the asking price, and either of the Scottish clubs could end up paying more than the real market price.
Postecoglou probably was hoping to get the striker on a free transfer, but Rangers eyeing a move in January could scupper Celtic’s transfer plans.
It will be interesting to see if Celtic come up with a bid of their own after this, but the Bears must stay away from any kind of transfer tug-of-war for the 22-year-old striker.
Rangers do need reinforcements in January but it’s unpredictable at the moment how the window will shape up for them.
It’s unclear whether Giovanni van Bronckhorst will still be in charge of the club until January as they trail seven points behind Celtic in the Scottish Premiership.
The club need to make a bold call on the futures of Alfredo Morelos and Kemar Roofe in January. Roofe has struggled with injuries this season, and he could be sold. Morelos is a club icon but he has dropped down the pecking order behind Antonio Colak.
The Colombian will be a free agent in the summer, and the club must make a bold decision on his future. If he leaves in January, the Bears could be forced to bring in a new striker, and in that case, Semenyo could come into contention.
Having said that, there are a lot of quality players available in the market at that price. If you’re paying a premium fee (relative, obviously) then you better buy someone who is proven quality.
On a free transfer, Semenyo probably makes sense. But, paying £5million for him in January would be madness, and it’s better to take this rumour with a pinch of salt, with due respect to Gyimah.
In other Rangers news, the Gers are ready to bid £5million to beat Celtic to the signing of one of their long-term targets.