With Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou needing to rebuild his squad quickly ahead of next month’s Champions League qualifiers, fans have been looking at potential free transfers for solutions.
Ryan Gauld is set to leave Portuguese Primeira Liga outfit Farense at the end of this month, having scored nine goals and provided seven assists in 33 league appearances last season.
With the 25-year-old out of contract, supporters on Twitter have been discussing whether the Hoops should take a chance on the playmaker:
On a free transfer it could be worth the risk
— Ray Oneill ??????? ?? (@rayoneill1985) June 25, 2021
Yes??
Free agent….
We should be all over it?
— TheHoops? (@67_Celtic_1888) June 25, 2021
No not good enough
— Jason Shaw (@Jason_M_Shaw) June 25, 2021
Seems to have finally become the player he always promised to be, but I don’t see room in the Celtic midfield for him to be honest.
— Gerryc (@Gerryc41446418) June 25, 2021
Absolutely only thing is can’t see him getting much game time because of turnbull
— BP98??????? (@bryy16ay) June 25, 2021
Yes, anyone saying no has not watched him play recently and are going on a injury hit season at hibs.
— Kevin Hackett (@KevHackett83) June 25, 2021
Free agent. No brainer
— ShaunG (@Shaun_G83) June 25, 2021
Worth a punt as a free agent
— Matt McCallum (@mccallum_matt) June 26, 2021
We have a few players in that position Turnbull, Christie who will no doubt go, Rogic i think will thrive under Ange. He is a good player Gauld but he did struggle before maybe the physicality of SPFL doesn’t suit him!
— angie campbell (@angie647) June 26, 2021
It’s a difficult one. While Gauld has performed very well in Portugal, the only experience he has of Scottish football over the past seven years was an ill-fated six-month loan spell at Hibernian. The former Scotland Under 21 international would have to play to a much better standard if he were to make the switch to Celtic Park.
There is also some dispute about the length of his contract at Farense, with some reports emerging at the weekend suggesting he has another year to go. If he is available on a Bosman though, he is likely to be someone Postecoglou and the recruitment department are looking at.
