THERE was speculation at the weekend that Kasper Schmeichel may emerge as a target for Brendan Rodgers.
The link was that the Danish international, a free agent after being released by Nice, had played for the Irishman during their time together at Leicester City.
CQN ignored the reports. Frankly, we didn’t believe them and saw no substance to what we reckoned was ill-informed conjecture.
So, no surprise when news broke the 36-year-old netminder, who had dropped down the pecking order at the Ligue 1 side, was about to sign a one-year contract with Belgian club Anderlecht.
NO DEAL…there was no way back to Celtic for Filipe Jota.
Other names were flagged up during the annual frenzy of transfer rumours at this time of year. They came thick and fast and some were as hilarious as they were hysterical.
A sensational return for Filipe Jota, just weeks after his £25million move to Saudi Arabian club Al-Ittihad? Nice thought, but never going to happen. We bodyswerved that one, as well.
How about a reunion for Rodgers and Patrick Roberts, the on-loan winger who became a fans’ favourite during The Invincibles campaign? No, CQN didn’t bother with that one, either.
Eric Dier, Ryan Fraser, Walfrid Ndidi, Michail Antonio, Xavier Mbuyamba and Mohammed Redu? They didn’t get airspace. Brazilian double-act, winger Tete and centre-back Lyanco? Sexy names, but we didn’t think so.
Manchester City youngsters Tommy Doyle and James McAtee? Those tales couldn’t be booted into touch until an investigation into the origins. Celtic, of course, have a history with the Etihad outfit that has seen the likes of John Guidetti, Daniel Arzani, Jason Denayer and Roberts, too, arrive at Parkhead on loan deals in the past.
NO DEAL…there was no way back to Celtic for Patrick Roberts .
We didn’t pursue the links. Doyle is now on a year’s deal at Wolves and McAtee has a similar arrangement after returning to Sheffield United for another season.
We half expected Uncle Tom Cobley to appear at some point on Brendan’s wish-list.
Thankfully, all transfer markets throughout Europe are now about to close for business and all the suppositions and theorising can go into cold storage.
We can now all take a break until the money merry-go-round goes into overdrive at the start of next year.
CQN notes Liverpool back-up keeper Caoimihn Kelleher, the Republic of Ireland international No.1, has been linked with a switch to the east end of Glasgow. Jurgen Klopp rates the 24-year-old netminder at approximately £20million.
We will await developments with breath well and truly bated.
