Brendan Rodger’s Celtic should avoid signing Franco Di Santo and Jack Rodwell at all cost
Celtic have already begun their January transfer window with the signing of two players; Marvin Compper from RB Leipzig and Lewis Morgan from St. Mirren. The Bhoys manager Brendan Rodgers needs to strengthen the core of his defense and with the signing of the experienced German centre-back, they have addressed a key issue defensively. The January transferred was followed up with Morgan – who signed a four-and-a-half year contract with Celtic – immediately loaned back to St Mirren until the end of the 2017–18 season.
The Bhoys, however, haven’t stopped getting linked with a number of other players in the winter window and the manager might look to bring in more couple of players before the transfer deadline day more particularly a winger and a striker, if Moussa Dembele does end up leaving the club.
However, given the number of players linked with a move to Parkhead, Football Weeks take a look at two players who the Scottish champions should avoid signing at all cost.
Franco Di Santo – FC Schalke 04
With rumours of Dembele’s exit gathering momentum, reports of the club targeting a move for Schalke striker Franco Di Santo burst out last week. If Celtic do end up signing the Argentinian, it would be a hugely underwhelming transfer.
So why should Celtic avoid signing him? In 68 appearances for Schalke across all competitions, he has managed just 11 goals and has just 21 strikers in over 100 Bundesliga appearances for the Die Knappen and former side Werder Bremen combined. While the competition for the 28-year-old may be more than the Scottish League, Di Santo’s record isn’t really worth Celtic making move for him.
The Argentina international has reached double figures for goals across all competitions in a single season on just one occasion throughout his career – once again, hardly impressive. Given the number of goals we all know Dembele has scored over the past year for Celtic, – 70 goals in 40 appearances – bringing in Di Santo as a replacement to the young Frenchman would be major downgrade.
Jack Rodwell – Sunderland A.F.C.
As per reports from the Sunderland Echo via Football Weeks, Celtic are said to be monitoring the situation of Jack Rodwell, who is keen on leaving Sunderland this month. But it wouldn’t be the widest of all for Rodgers to make a move for for the Black Cats midfielder.
Rodwell’s career at the Wearside has been hampered by constant injuries since his move from Manchester City back in the summer of 2014. This season, the ex-Everton man has registered just three senior appearances for the club in all competitions, having spent most of his time with the reserves.
The 26-year-old, who is widely known for his persistent injury record, has failed to live up to expectations at the Stadium of Light but earns close to £70,000-a-week. Rodwell’s hardly what the Hoops want right now. The Scottish champions clearly have better options at their rank in the form of Stuart Armstrong and Callum McGregor with Olivier Ntchman also in his best form of life, Celtic would be better off without signing Rodwell.