As Neil Lennon sets off on the journey from Boston to Glasgow the future of Aiden McGeady will be a priority.
Will he play the £10m rated midfielder in next week’s Champions League qualifier with Sporting Braga?
An appearance from McGeady will instantly reduce the transfer fee that Celtic can expect to pick up from Aston Villa or Spurs, two of the teams most linked with the player.
There has been no official confirmation of a transfer request from either the player or the club but behind the scenes there will be realism from all parties involved.
No one benefits from a messy situation played out in public with Celtic, Lennon and McGeady all wanting to come out of the situation in the best possible light.
With four games in North America under his belt, and with Daryl Murphy and Efrain Juarez likely to make their debuts at Lincoln on Saturday Lennon has a big decision to make over whether McGeady plays in Portugal.
If he is played, and cup-tied from European football, the transfer fee and range of clubs interested in the player could instantly decline.
If he doesn’t play Lennon runs the risk of being criticised for putting the club’s financial interests ahead of their Champions League prospects.
There’s little doubt that in an ideal world McGeady would prefer to be playing for a leading Premiership club on September 1 with Celtic reinvesting a record transfer fee in two or three players ready made to take the club to the SPL title.
Playing in this season’s Champions League will be an unlikely bonus for Celtic this season, the cash and prestige would be welcome but it’s unlikely that Lennon will be able to assemble a squad capable of doing themselves justice in the Champions League while pushing for success domestically.
During the North American tour Lennon confirmed the indications that McGeady was likely to leave saying: “Aiden hasn’t said to me he wants to leave in so many words but that vibe came from his side of things.”
Complicating, or maybe clarifying the issue, Martin O’Neill made a rare departure from protocol to discuss a player under contract at another club.
The Villa boss said: “I think Aiden McGeady has the ability to play in the Premier League, without question.
“I had him as a kid at Celtic and played him without worrying too much about his youth.
“He played against AC Milan one night in the Champions League at Celtic Park and he was absolutely fantastic.”
Villa captain and Irish internationalist Richard Dunne ‘innocently’ added: “I haven’t spoke to Aiden but he’s been brilliant up there and probably the next step for him is the Premier League. Whether that’s with us or not, I don’t know.”
It doesn’t take MI5 to read between the lines at what’s going on as the inevitable transfer speeds up whilst Villa prepare to sell James Milner to Manchester City.
What’s in Celtic’s best interests is all that matters to Lennon but no club wishes to have an unhappy or reluctant player around the club.
Should McGeady be played and cup-ties in Portugal next week? Add your thoughts below.
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Any player who wants to leave should be allowed to. If Aiden does want to leave then Celtic shouldn’t play him next week, they should only play players who want to be at Celtic.
The transfer situation is a bonus for Celtic, and just strengthens the position of his not playing.
Just for the record, I love Aiden McGeady, he is undoubtedly the most talented player Celtic have at present.
From the beginning, Aiden has pledged his loyalty to Celtic and to Ireland from whence his ancestors and Celtic’s come from.
He has suffered racial and sectarian abuse to do this. It is now time to allow him to thrill fans in the “so called” best league.
In these days of crazy money transfers, he is worth £15. However, if we get £10 million or more, I will be ok in seeing our most skilful, talented, creative, entertaining and exciting player leave.
He will certainly make more of an impact down south than Maloney, who turned his back on Celtic and was lucky to be allowed to return. Hail! Hail! Aiden!
Aiden is reportedly “injured” and will “miss” or “is struggling” – depending on what you read- for next week anyway.
By that time he will be ordering a caseload of square sausage to his new Birmingham home anyway.
I would urge Neil Lennon to leave McGeady OUT
of the Braga game.
A £10million move looks as good as a done deal.
No point jeapordising it now.
The wee mans on his way one way or another.
£ 10million is not to be sniffed at in the current financial climate.
Heres to a great season for my wee favourite
Sean Maloney. Hail,Hail!