So Celtic manager Ronny Deila has admitted that former West Ham striker Carlton Cole is training with the Scottish champions this week with a view to signing.
The 31-year-old was released by the Hammers at the end of last season and despite his extensive experience of top flight English football – the former England international failed to find a club during the summer transfer window despite being heavily linked with a number of Championship sides.
Speaking after Celtic’s 6-0 win over Dundee on Sunday afternoon, Deila admitted: “We will have talks with him and see him in training as well, this week, I think, we will see if it is something that will happen or not.”
“It is not [a trial]. He has been in London his whole life, so he has to see what he is coming to and then we will see if it is something that he likes and we like as well. I think he is very good football player and he shown in the Premier League and also the Championship that he can score goals and he is different to what we have.
“He is a target man, very good in the air and strong and that is something that, if everything fits, could be good for us.”
Celtic had tried to bolster their strike force ahead of the transfer window as they tried to sign Sunderland striker Steven Fletcher and Swansea’s Michu. Neither materialised and Deila had to settle for the services of Nadir Ciftci, Leigh Griffiths and Anthony Stokes.
Is Carlton Cole really the player that Celtic need?
I just can’t fathom Celtic’s decision to even consider pursuing the former England international. Yes he has a barrel load of experience, but in the past three seasons he has played a total of 85 games and scored an abysmal 11 goals.
With those stats and Celtic’s need for goals both domestically and in Europe why in the hell are they wasting a wage on him?
He may be great at holding up the play and that may suit Ronny Deila’s style of play and tactics – but there is one kid in the ranks of Celtic’s development squad that should be given his chance rather than a former Premier League player looking for one extra pay day before retirement – his name is Aidan Nesbitt.
Nesbitt has shown that he has all the attributes and potential to be a great addition to Celtic’s first team IF he is given a chance to shine. But with Cole’s potential arrival the youngster’s chances are looking slimmer by the day and all for a striker who will disappear at the end of the season after picking up a wage that would pay for two players.
IF Cole does sign and IF he does produce the goods for Celtic then I will admit I was wrong about him, but I just can’t help thinking that he will turn out to be another Dion Dublin, Ian Wright and Freddie Ljungberg – an expensive flop.
Have Celtic given up on Nadir Ciftci already? He was supposed to be the target man that Celtic needed wasn’t he?
