Celtic are ‘reportedly interested’ in Gabi Iancu of Dinamo Bucharest.
Various Romanian media sources are reporting the interest with quotes from a Celtic scout to back up the story.
Celtic scouts are notoriously quiet about their work, especially during transfer windows, and rarely identify themselves at matches, preferring a low profile and merging into the background.
That absence of publicity seems to have created an opportunity for agents to link their players with Celtic with the stories giving credibility with claims that their asset is being watched by a mysterious and un-named Celtic scout.
Not only has Iancu been watched by Celtic but the mystery scout has been giving interviews detailing the clubs interest in the player!
According to Romanian website Prosport the mystery scout said: “Celtic currently has a list that is 10 names, including Gabriel Iancu and Dorin Rotariu, and their goal is a permanent transfer. Most likely two players on this list will be brought now to the end of the week further, that when the transfer period closes in Scotland.
“Yet Celtic’s priority at the moment is bringing a forward-marker, and after that will solve the problem will think of other players.”
Rotariu is apparently a target for Manchester United according to the enthusiastic reports from Bucharest.
The final sentence provides the get out should either ‘deal’ fall through with Celtic’s priority being to bring in a striker during what’s left of the transfer window.
As a kiss of death to a potential transfer nothing works better than quotes from players or an agent talking up an imminent move to Celtic, those that are in genuine negotiations with the club tend to keep their thoughts to themselves.
With Stefan Johansen signed from Stromsgodset the midfield department is well covered as is defence although the long term search for a back-up to Emilio Izaguirre remains unfulfilled.
With half a dozen young Celtic players out on loan at clubs from Morton to Lierse via Shrewsbury and Notts County it’s unlikely that the club will be signing in any new ‘projects’ during the current transfer window leaving Iancu and Rotariu to continue their careers in Bucharest with Dinamo.
I agree Joe,
I can’t see these players coming anytime
soon.
However,it is good that we cast our net far and wide.As Wanyama proved.
According to Lenny it will be Grriffiths or
nobody.So the target man we need,will not come in this window.I think we will
get this No.9,in the summer.
But with the World Cup,followed quickly
by CL qualifiers,I hope we can get this type of player in,in time, or else ?
As for Griffiths?
He divides fan opinion.IMO it is a no- brainer,he scores goals.Proved at Hibs,he
can score in this league.I am sure Commons would welcome his arrival.As
Lenny says,” he trust people in the game
with their judgement of him.”
Is he CL level ?
Who knows ? He can’t be dismissed,until
he’s played their.If the target man comes
in,they could provide a very potent partnership.
Where is our partnership just now ?
Yip,we haven’t got one.So I.would come
Griffiths into the Celtic Family.
Think you’ll be right about the No9 Peter.
As for Griffiths, I would have no hesitation bringing him in. He knows where the goal is. As for CL I’d take the risk, plenty examples of CL virgins making their mark (Tony Watt).
On the Romanians, seems an awful long time since they produced the likes of Dan Petrescu and Hagi but you never know we’ve got a knack in uncovering some gems (and I’ve got to add some stinkers).
Hail hail
Peter and Jimbo, your spot on regarding Griffiths.
May not be the top drawer striker we will need for the CL but he would be a good addition. He will do what Balde, Pukki and Stokes can’t do, score goals on a regular basis and he wouldn’t break the bank either. Would be a sensible bit of business
That said Lawell shouldn’t be allowed to pass Griffiths off as the answer to all our prayers either we still need to secure another striker and a playmaker for CL if we want to give a decent account of ourselves.
Hail Hail.
Maybe I’m missing something and PL’s player buying strategy is just to clever for me to understand. However, I can’t help thinking that if we’re going to buy Scottish players, we should maybe do it before they go to England- increasing their transfer fees by a factor of ten. Just a thought.
What is the point in buying Griffiths ?? Is he any better than what we have got ?? Not in my opinion !! We have better out in loan if you ask me, Balde still has not been given a proper chance ! Pukki is coming onto a game so why waste another couple of million on griffiths ???
Richie,
I respect your opinion.
First fee is in the region of 500k.
What striker is scoring goals at CP ?
IMO Griffiths is a better goalscorer than
Balde,Samaras,Stokes and Pukki.
Balde first touch is terrible,and like Pukki
has a long way to go.
If I had my way,every top club needs 4 strikers.
I rate Tony Watt,he would be one of my
strikers.
Griffiths also,purely on goals,is a striker.
Pukki,2.5M,would be kept,and might show
up better beside a target man.
My 4’th striker would be a quality target
man.It might cost £5,but we deserve this.
Samaras I would sell now.Stokes also,if we
get Griffiths,I would sell.
Balde,I would put out on loan,to get used
to the game here.
Football,is all about opinions,but I am sure Griffiths will surprise a few Celtic fans.
Peter, i also respect your opinion and agree with you on few things like stokes, samaras time is up at celtic ! I didnt know that it was only 500k, which shocks me even more because if lennon rates him so highly why isnt he signed already??? We have paid more for every striker at the club the now ! Tony Watt would be my number 1 striker really dont know what he has down wrong ?? Keep hearing about his attitude but it has always looked great to me on the park ! Stokes has brought more trouble to the club but he is still there and griffiths has not been an angel in the past either ! I agree about balde’s first touch but the guy deserves a chance he has scored two lovely goals with the ball at his feet taking on defenders think we miss that also ! But if griffiths does sign i hope your right peter i hope he does suprise me ! Hail Hail !
With Sammi on the way out,LG would do a job ,taking probably same or less wages and 2-3 years down the line ……..nice profit ! seemples! IMO
ok. i’m from Romania and i support Dinamo Bucharest.
Dorin Rotariu it’s not a striker. is a winger. left, but he can play on the right.
Gabi Iancu dont play for Dinamo. he play for our biggest rivalry, steaua bucharest. we(Celtic) play against steaua in january 2013. we win 2-1(????!!!!), in Spain. 😀 😀 Iancu it’s not a striker. he is an attacking midfielder, and can play on the wings.
i dont think they are good enough to play for Celtic, if we want to have performance in Europe.
Hail Hail!!
Here’s my tuppence worth…
Balde…If he ever makes a good footballer..I’ll be shocked…He has no sense of touch whatsoever…and you can’t teach a player that …you either have or you don’t have.
I hope he proves me wrong…but I can’t see it.
Pukki…Gets better every time I see him..Intelligent runs off the ball,which pulls defenders and creates openings…good ball control…..packs a shot…which he should use more…He lacks the physical bit….but he can improve on that…and needs to sharpen up his reflexes…but I really think he’ll be a good one.
Watt was farmed out for a reason…and not a good one from what I heard….He then was criticised by his new club….so …not too good so far.
He seems to have got a grip of himself now ‘though…and is scoring goals again….so let’s hope that continues..and he returns to CP an all round better player.
Griffiths showed to me with Hibs that he is a top goalscorer…at our level….Some of his goals were outstanding…and he was with a team not exactly at the top of their game…
I think he’ll score plenty for us…
As for the CL…? Let’s worry about that when we have to….Guaranteed quality strikers come with huge fees attached..and we’re not in that market.
Oh..and I assume we have done our homework re. his “off-field” life style …and that would be a thing of the past…It’s something the Club takes very seriously….
Finally…the Romanians….?
Kite flying at it’s best..Canny see it…
HH
WE have payed more money for both Balde and Pukki and they cant get a regular game. We offer £400 thousand for Griffiths will he play. If we are looking at this type of player we should maybe take a closer look at the youngster at St johnstone Stevie May.
A lot of good opinions from the bhoys in green above. I would shift Sammy, stokes, Ledley mcGeouch bangura and Kayal. Would bring in Griffiths, with balde and Pukki we could maybe make a bigger signing in the summer. Let the new lads settle in remember we bought Fridjonnson in December, he mite be a wee gem to be uncovered. Let the young lads come through and if need be buy early in the summer. Maybe snodgrass or even Dorrans I’ve always liked his work rate. If we get rid of the 6 I mentioned up top we will save some wages and it will open up spaces for the developement squad. Henderson, mcGregor, Fraser and the young lad Calvin need some game time when the league has been won. We need a back up for left back, Buttner at man utd would do me!!
This is a total joke.we said we were after a striker who is better than what we have ..who can score goals at championes league level…gruffiths come on ….penny pinching again. False hope to fans .pretending to have up to six million for a striker …and who do we get . A striker who scores one goal in three in the third teer in england .pathetit
A couple of points…. If Griffiths joins, we will most definately have one too many strikers on the books. We have 6 or 7 at least. With having so many it causes a number of things. 1) you can’t feesibly keep all strikers happy, and 2) it’s not good for team spirit / morale to have too many unhappy players hanging around the squad.
Therefore agree with those above who state Samaras must go. Celtic must pull out the stops to ensure the big man exits the club Asap. As also pointed out, I would encourage Stokes agent to promote him to championship clubs. In fact if west ham sign Ross McCormack from Leeds, I would actively approach Leeds about taking Stokes off our hands. I would work with a bank of 4 strikers… Griffiths, Commons, Pukki, and Balde for now. At least until the summer.
Celtic fans all over were in agreement after out championes league campain that we needed a top drawer striker ….this guy playes for wolves. Hardly going yo improve us now is it
Not a huge fan of Griffiths but he can & does score goals, just his off field antics that bother me. Has he matured enough to screw the nut, I doubt it any abuse he currently gets would be magnified tenfold in he joins the hoops. On being CL level, well Scott McDonald scored against holders AC Milan, Griffiths might not make the difference v a top quality side like Munich, PSG but could turn a draw into a win against a decent run of the mill side like Ajax, Schalke etc.
I’d still hope for better though and hope that Balde, Pukki get a real run of games to show what they can offer.
Two things from the week end. Neil talked very highly of Griffiths and James McPake (his good friend) said he would walk over broken glass to get to parkhead.
We also dont need to look far for “off the field antics”, Stokes, Forrest and Watt for example.
I’d forget about Watt, I’ve said before the last celtic player to go out on loan, come back and be a star was Bertie Auld and Watt certainly ain’t no Auld.
Griffiths while playing for Hibs was Prolific imagine what he could be like with the service from a celtic team. He’s 23, dipped his toe with the national side and wouldn’t cost us the earth. No brainer for me.
If we’re being restricted to 4 strikers then my choice would be Fridjohnson, Pukki, Griffiths and a £6m man. Get rid of the rest. Don’t forget bhoys Commons is a MIDFIELDER, I know its been easy to forget as he’s the best STRIKER we have at the moment.
hail hail