With a lack of transfer speculation over the weekend some imaginative Celtic fans started to ponder a return to the club for Stuart Armstrong.
Just over a year ago Southampton paid £8m for the midfielder who was outstanding in the 2016/17 Invincible season but a shadow of that player the following term. A sort of Olivier Ntcham a year early.
With Southampton struggling and Mark Hughes replaced by Ralph Hasenhutti in mid season Armstrong’s move didn’t quite go as smoothly as he would have wished, starting just 16 EPL matches and appearing as a substitute in a further 13. A total of four goals over the season, two in the same match away to Fulham doesn’t sound much like the player that brought drive and goals to Brendan Rodgers’ first season in Glasgow.
When he ‘committed’ to a 12 month extension to his Celtic contract in August 2017 the writing was on the wall for Armstrong who clearly had his eyes on the next financial step in his career.
Armstrong signed a four year contract with the Saints with wages that will comfortably exceed the highest paid player at Celtic.
With two trebles in his back pocket, plus two other SPFL winners medals there is little on the park to entice the 27-year-old back to Scotland.
Celtic’s transfer priority is surely a new right-back and despite one memorable performance from the Blonde Cafu Armstrong will see his future as a midfielder- enjoying the riches of the EPL.
Few murmurs coming our way tonight that #Stuart #Armstrong could be making a return to #Celtic
— SPFL Scouting (@spflscouting) July 14, 2019
Stuart Armstrong back … chase him
— RMP MCG (@RyanMcGoldrick_) July 14, 2019
Ahahah if Stuart Armstrong is on his way back then consider me absolutely buzzing
— aidan (@aidan_celtic) July 14, 2019
Stuart armstrong big miss and never been replaced
— Paul Munro (@Paulmunro18) July 14, 2019
No a chance Stuart Armstrong is coming back to Celtic – here a’d love it btw.
As long as there is mare money being offered doon there he’ll happily float about English clubs. He’s a smart lad wae nae real affiliation fur Celtic. He’s jist banking cash like ma boy Scrooge McDuck
— Hank Burns (@HankBurns6) July 14, 2019
Hoping the Stuart Armstrong rumours are true, main reason for the song
— keiran lynch (@lynchkeiran) July 14, 2019
Look on twitter and see tweets that Stuart Armstrong might come back ???????? I’d greet
— shmeggg (@megankanexxx) July 14, 2019
Stuart Armstrong coming back would be the highlight of 2019, will never happen but
— Seán Markus Clifford (@seanmarkus_67) July 14, 2019
Nah I’m no trying to get my hopes up about Stuart Armstrong potentially coming back
— Kieran Polland (@Kieran_Polland) July 14, 2019