Ange Postecoglou has been appointed as the new Celtic manager; the 55-year old replaces Neil Lennon, who resigned in February after failing to win their record 10th consecutive Scottish Premiership title. Postecoglou has enjoyed success in the A-league winning back-to-back titles with Brisbane Roar and has also been head coach of the Australian national team. He also won the J1 League with Yokohama Marinos in 2019.
In their managerial search, if Celtic were to look out for a pedigree manager who has the potential to win titles and get this team back on track, Postecoglou is indeed someone who fits the bill. Someone who has that appetite for success along with a proven track record. As the new manager, he will be looking to add quality to the current Celtic squad with new arrivals this transfer window.
Ange believes in a progressive attacking style of football, so it will be interesting to see which players he will bring along for his new project at Celtic. So who are the players that are on the radar of new Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou?
1) Ado Onaiwu
According to reports, Ange Postecoglou has been keeping an eye out on Japanese striker Ado Onaiwu. The 25-year old had an impressive season at Yokohama Marinos with 10 goals in 16 appearances and his impact on the field stretches beyond the stats that are on display here. Onaiwu was all praise for Postecoglou after making his debut for the Japanese national team in a 1-0 win over Serbia. He said:
“I have enjoyed an excellent relationship with him and he has been a huge influence in my career, I don’t mind admitting that when he first came to the club, I was confused with his training because it was of such high intensity.”
“But because of that, he improved my game immeasurably and you can see I got my rewards by playing against Serbia.”
“I was able to speak to Mr. Postecoglou before the match against Serbia. I thanked him for all his help and for helping me grow as a player. I will always be grateful for his guidance in my career”.
Onaiwu certainly has great admiration for Postecoglou, and they could reunite at Celtic if things pan out in favour in the transfer window. Although the Japanese attacker has been linked with a transfer, no formal approach have been made by the Bhoys yet.
2) Mathew Ryan
Brighton goalkeeper Mat Ryan has been heavily linked with a move to Celtic. The Australian shot-stopper still has a year left in his contract with the Seagulls and is valued at around £3.5 million. Ange Postecoglou could be a key to signing Ryan for Celtic amid interest from Arsenal where he spent the last six months on loan and it has been reported that Mikel Arteta would like to see more from him.
Ryan was a regular for the Australian national team when Postecoglou was in charge, as a result, they both understand each other well and this could turn out to be a major factor in bringing Mat Ryan to Parkhead. The new Celtic boss demands progressive football and the Australian is exactly the kind of ball-playing goalkeeper he is looking for.
The 29-year-old is in his prime years and can be a solid addition for the Celtic defensive setup if they were to secure his services. Mat Ryan is also keen on playing first-team football after his loan spell at Arsenal and this could act in favor of the Bhoys.
3) Aaron Mooy
Aaron Mooy currently plays for Shanghai Port but is becoming increasingly frustrated because of the restrictions of the Chinese Super League. Moreover, the 30-year-old midfielder is unable to see his wife and his family who are based in Scotland. With Postecoglou eyeing for more muscle to rebuild his squad, the Australian international will add a much-needed boost in midfield.
His past experiences in England and Scotland make this a suitable arrangement both for the player and the club. Aaron previously spent two years in the Scottish Premiership with St Mirren between 2010 and 2012. The addition of Aaron Mooy to the team will certainly help Ange to build the squad to compete at the top level.
It’s no doubt that Celtic will be scrambling to get hold of quality players in this transfer market as star players like Odsonne Edouard, Kris Ajer, and Ryan Christie are entering the final year of their contracts and all linked with moves away from the Parkhead. Ange Postecoglou will be on his toes to get his potential targets signed and also to prepare for the upcoming Champions League qualification fixtures.