Christian Atsu (Getty Images)
As per SportsWorldGhana (h/t MSN), Celtic are interested in signing Newcastle United star Christian Atsu in a bid to bolster their attack.
The report suggests that the Hoops tried to sign the winger last January but a deal didn’t materialize after Atsu declined the offer on the deadline day. However, he could be on the move this summer, with the Magpies willing to sell him.
Born in Ghana, Atsu started his journey with Feyenoord Fetteh in his homeland before joining Porto’s youth system. He was a part of the squad which won the Portuguese league title in 2012/13 and moved to Chelsea that summer.
However, he failed to break into the Blues squad and spent his entire Chelsea career on loan spells before moving to St. James’ Park initially on loan. He was impressive in his debut season with the Magpies as he helped them get promoted to the top-flight. He was a key member of the squad until last season, where he fell down the pecking order.
Celtic boss Neil Lennon has a fantastic squad at his disposal and is hoping to claim the league title for the 10th time in a row. However, the manager needs to bring in reinforcements to several key areas and add depth to the squad.
One area which needs to be strengthened is the flanks. At the moment, Mohamed Elyounoussi and Mikey Johnston are the two wingers available. While the Norwegian has got off to a good start in the new season, young Johnston is set to remain on the sidelines for a lengthy spell after undergoing a calf surgery. This leaves the Hoops with limited options in the wide areas.
Thus, bringing in a winger is a must and Newcastle’s Atsu would be a viable option. The Ghanaian may not have been at his best of late but he could surely provide them with some much-needed depth.
He has made over 239 career appearances, whilst also representing Ghana 60 times at the international level and his experience could be a massive boost to their attacking unit. The 28-year-old could bring in healthy competition to the squad and could be a useful player if he is able to revive his form next season.
With limited options on the flanks, it is clear that Celtic are in dire need of wingers. And Atsu, who is entering the final year of his contract with Newcastle, could be a cheap option for the Hoops. He could provide them with some much-needed depth. Thus, they should manage to lure the Ghanaian to Celtic Park this summer.
