GARY HOOPER is heading for the exit door at Carrow Road as Alex Neil prepares for life back in the English Premier League for Norwich City. Huddersfield have made an enquiry to take the former Celtic striker – who left Glasgow for Norwich City to enhance his chances of becoming England’s striker – and are keen to take the player to the John Smith’s Stadium on a season long loan.
Chris Powell, the Huddersfield manager faces competition from Hooper’s former gaffer at Celtic Neil Lennon who is monitoring the situation regarding and could make his move in the coming days.
Ronny Deila may be tempted to look at a move for Hooper and you’ll remember that this time last year Hooper’s mate Kris Commons was touting a return for the player in the press. It’s hard to see Hooper flourishing in Deila’s established system at Celtic but on the other hand Hooper is certainly a better option that the outgoing John Guidetti.
Yesterday Deila was subjected to more verbals from Guidetti regarding the Swedish striker being dropped from the Celtic side last winter due to his scoring drought. Guidetti has it in his head that he was dropped for telling the Celtic manager that he wouldn’t be signing on for the 4IAR Champions. He claims Deila told him he’d be dropped for this reason but blames the Celtic manager for saying something different to the media.
Delia’s comments regarding Guidetti were always consider and extremely fair. The player seems to be becoming increasingly desperate as club after club mentioned as possible providers of his reported £3M a year salary expectations drop out of the running. They are looking for a striker at Huddersfield, John.
Meanwhile Sunderland are now ready to make a bid for Celtic defender Virgil van Dijk – and plan to offer Steven Fletcher in part-exchange. Forgive us for not being too excited, Dick!
Veton Berisha, the 21-year-old Viking Stavanger striker, is flattered to be linked with move to Celtic. Beret, who has scored seven goals in 11 games so far this season, is coming to the end of his contract and is considering his next career move.
The player said: “I don’t know anything about the Celtic interest, but it is of course very flattering.
“If the right offer comes along from an overseas club then I would consider it, but it all depends on which club is making the offer.”
Another Norwegian linked to a summer move to Glasgow is Real Madrid’s youngster Martin Odegaard. The Madrid side are reportedly happy to send Norwegian starlet Martin Odegaard out on loan next season – but seem to have a preference for a Spanish club being the best option. Ronny Deila brought the 16 year old player through the ranks at Stromsgodset and can point to the career enhancement enjoyed by Belgian teenager while on a year long loan at Celtic last season from Manchester City.
Celtic have apparently lost out, as expected, to Palermo in the race to sign Ahmad Benali. The 23-year-old had been playing for cash-strapped Brescia, and he has signed on a free transfer. It’s never been clear that Celtic were ever ready to make a move for the defensive midfielder. One player Celtic have confirmed an interest in is former Hearts captain Danny Wilson who appears to be awaiting developments in Glasgow. if you were a betting man you’d place a wee investment on the player arriving at Celtic over the next month or so.
