Have we ever witnessed a season quite like this one at Celtic? There have been three different managers at the Parkhead helm and despite all of the chaos, they managed to move within three points of league leaders Hearts after winning on Saturday.
The diabolical Wilfried Nancy reign came to an end after just 33 days but with Martin O’Neill back in the dugout, there is renewed hope once more for Celtic supporters.
It didn’t take O’Neill long to get the Hoops back to winning ways as they defeated Dundee United 4-0 at the weekend.
The task for the Irishman now will also be to identify the right players to strengthen the ranks. They are yet to welcome any new faces to Paradise but it surely won’t be long before they do.
Celtic lining up midfielder deal
One of the most exciting rumours of the January window to date has been links to Kyogo Furuhashi.
The Japan forward left Scotland behind a year ago and is now playing his football in England for Birmingham City. However, sadly for those at Celtic, it’s a deal that feels unlikely. O’Neill said as much in his pre-match press conference last week.
A move for Hibernian striker Kieron Bowie could be on the cards instead.
Away from that much-needed striker spot, Celtic could also bolster their ranks in the middle of the park. That’s according to a report from Football Insider.
They claim that Celtic and their Old Firm rivals are set to battle it out for the signature of Swedish midfielder Silas Andersen this month. Andersen currently plays in his homeland for BK Hacken.
Football Insider’s transfer correspondent, Pete O’Rourke stated: “Both Celtic and Rangers are looking at him. He’s a young midfielder who has got the physical attributes to come into Scotland and be a success.”
While no fee has been reported on this occasion, previous reports have suggested it could take an eye-watering £8.6m to prise him away from Hacken.
Why Andersen could replace McGregor long-term
Celtic’s midfield has been an issue this term. Club captain Callum McGregor has played more minutes than any other player in hoops this term but who plays alongside him has been up for debate across much of the campaign.
Arne Engels and Reo Hatate have been the preferred combination, notably starting alongside McGregor on O’Neill’s return on Saturday.
Engels did in fact score on this occasion but Hatate was dragged off just after the hour mark. Given the qualities that Andersen possesses, you sense he could replace either of them in the Celtic midfield.
He’s got the ability to powerfully carry the ball forward but in the words of SPFL analyst Kai Watson, he’s “incredibly aggressive and strong in the tackle”, suggesting he could play as a lone pivot.
Andersen is a holding midfielder by trade and aged just 21, looks like a future McGregor in waiting.
According to data from FBRef, the young midfielder is an all-action player. While he may not find the net very often, scoring just five times in 45 outings for the Allsvenskan side, he is brilliant at getting the ball forward and disrupting play.
Compared to midfielders in 14 leagues similar to the Swedish top-flight, he ranks impressively. He sits inside the top 4% of positionally similar players for passes attempted and the top 5% for progressive carries per 90 minutes, suggesting he loves to get on the ball and progress play.
Andersen also ranks in the top 1% for interceptions and among the best 2% for blocks per 90. This is a player who will fiercely stand in the way to recover possession and judging by his ability to carry the ball, his first thought is always about how he can get possession up the pitch.
To put those numbers into context, McGregor ranks poorly in comparison. The data below showcases that.
|
Andersen vs McGregor: Last 365 days |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Stat (per 90 mins) |
Andersen |
McGregor |
|
Goals |
0.17 |
0 |
|
Assists |
0.17 |
0 |
|
Passes completed |
60.87 |
56.50 |
|
Progressive carries |
2.44 |
0.60 |
|
Progressive passes |
6.80 |
3.20 |
|
Tackles |
2.09 |
1.50 |
|
Interceptions |
2.09 |
1.00 |
|
Data supplied by FBRef. |
||
Let’s make things clear. Andersen is not going to walk into the team and replace the skipper immediately. McGregor is pretty irreplaceable for now.
However, at the age of 32, it won’t be long before Celtic need to consider a succession plan. O’Neill is unlikely to be in the picture for that long but by signing Andersen, they’d have a player capable of not just succeeding McGregor at the base of the midfield but featuring alongside him.
For now, the latter feels more realistic but should he arrive at Parkhead, it might not be too long before we witness a changing of the guard.
Celtic holding talks to sign the next Scott Brown for O’Neill
Celtic are reportedly interested in a deal to sign a star who could be a Scott Brown repeat at Parkhead.
