Opinion: Should Celtic make swoop for £3m rated attacker?
Now that the January transfer window is open, Celtic will no doubt be linked with many players over the next few weeks, even though the Hoops have already been busy in the transfer window.
One player that has been linked with a move to Glasgow is Hibernian attacker Martin Boyle.
Boyle has been a key man for the Easter Road side this season, the Australian has scored 14 goals in 27 appearances.
Boyle’s most notable game this season came in the Premier Sports Cup semi-final against Rangers, when he scored a first-half hat trick in a 3-1 win.
YouTube: Rangers 1-3 Hibernian | Boyle Sends Hibs Into The Final! | Premier Sports Cup
Interestingly, Boyle hasn’t scored since that game in November, although he has contributed some four assists since.
The Australian is well-known to his fellow countryman, Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou, and indeed Boyle scored against the Hoops in Celtic’s 3-1 win at Easter Road earlier season.
YouTube: Hibernian 1-3 Celtic | First Half Dominace Crucial for Celtic | cinch Premiership
The Scotsman is reporting that the 28-year-old is a possible January target for Celtic, but Hibernian’s asking price is £3m.That is quite a lot of money for a player that is in Scotland, but Hibernian will not want to sell one of their most important players for an amount that will upset the club’s fans.
When you also take into account the fact that Boyle is under contract until 2024, it is no real surprise that the asking price for the player is £3m.So, the question is should Celtic move for the player in January?
There is no doubt that Boyle’s goal record is good, and if he is at Celtic he will likely get more chances to find the back of the net, as the Hoops are a very attacking side.
However, there is no guarantee that Boyle would be a regular starter in the Celtic first team, as the likes of Jota, James Forrest and Mikey Johnston are already in the squad.
When you consider the injuries that the Celtic wingers have had this season though, perhaps Postecoglou will feel that it is a position that the Hoops need to strengthen in.
The player’s price tag is what might stop Celtic from moving for Boyle. If the club are trying to sign Jota and Cameron Carter-Vickers on permanent deals, the Hoops aren’t likely to spend another £3m on Boyle.
If the Hoops could get Hibernian to agree a lesser fee, then Celtic might well make a move for Boyle. But as it stands, even though he would be a good addition to the squad, it would be a bit of a surprise if Celtic paid £3m for the player.