Celtic completed the transfer of Osaze Urhoghide from Sheffield Wednesday on a four-year contract till 2025. Ange Postecoglou fended off competition from Leeds United, Crystal Palace, Benfica, Club Brugge, and Sporting to sign the Dutch-born English defender. However, their summer transfer plans are far from complete and according to reports, Celtic have been targeting Shanghai Port’s Australian midfielder Aaron Mooy.
Postecoglou is prioritising his mission of landing the Chinese Super League star but it will not be easy. Aaron Mooy is one of the highest-paid foreign players of the Super League. The former Brighton star will face a significant wage cut if he chooses to move to Parkhead. Mooy’s salary comes in the range of £3m per year alongside former Brazil internationals Hulk and Oscar.
Postecoglou has got a long transfer wish list for the summer transfer window that includes Mario Vuskovic, George Baldock, Mat Ryan, and Ko Itakura. Meanwhile, Celtic have agreed on a one-year extension with striker Leigh Griffiths. Ange has made it clear what he expects from Griffiths, whom he sees as one of the best strikers in Scotland. He stated:
“I am really pleased to keep Leigh with us for another season at least.”
“I have had very positive conversations with Leigh and he clearly understands my expectations and more importantly the club’s.”
“Leigh has already proven himself as one of the top strikers in Scotland and I look forward to working with him so that we can bring success to Celtic.”
Aaron Mooy transfer: Where it stands?
Ange Postecoglou managed Aaron Mooy during his spell as the coach of Australia’s men’s national team. He was a regular player at the international level under Postecoglou. His transfer to Celtic will be a reunion with his former boss and the Hoops management are expecting to use this as a bargaining chip to land the player.
Moreover, Postecoglou believes that Mooy’s recruitment will make a drastic impact. The 30-year-old is a box-to-box midfielder who knows the manager’s style and tactics and can be his leader on the pitch and it will help them fight their arch-rivals Rangers next season for the title. The club is currently using Ismaila Soro as an out-and-out defensive midfielder. The addition of Mooy would be a fantastic move for Celtic and help them find more creative gaps in the opposition half while adding steel to theirs.
A recent report claimed that Shanghai Port would be open to letting Aaron Mooy leave for Celtic if a suitable offer arrives. Chinese teams realise that the current situation in the country is tough for foreign players. China’s domestic league setup is facing more encounters from the administrations regarding the big signings of foreign players. They are proposing a new policy to reduce the presence of foreign talent to help the growth of domestic players.
At Parkhead, Mooy would be a reliable midfield option for next season and Postecoglou can go all out for the Australian. If the Hoops can convince the player over the financial deficit, then the signing is not far from happening.