Rangers and a handful of Premier League big guns want Gauld, but should Celtic consider a move?
Football website TeamTalk have claimed that Sporting Lisbon playmaker Ryan Gauld is being tracked by Rangers, Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool and Arsenal – so should Celtic throw their hat into the ring?
A handful of Sporting Lisbon players are looking to leave the club this summer after a mob of fans attacked the players at the club’s training ground, following a number of poor performances.
The likes of Bas Dost, Gelson Martins, William Carvalho, Rui Patricio and Carlos Mane are all requesting to be made free agents, while the report claims Gauld could also be made available by the Portuguese giants.
The 22-year-old Scottish youth international, who made the surprise move from Dundee United to Sporting in the summer of 2014, has managed just five appearances for Sporting since the move – scoring five goals.
Despite that, Spurs, Liverpool, Arsenal and Rangers are all keen on signing the Sporting outcast, who spent the 2017-18 campaign on loan at Portuguese minnows Desportivo Aves.
Celtic are expected to be on the lookout for additions to their side this summer, as they look to fend off what is expected to be the toughest of challenges to their domination of domestic football in Scotland next season.
Rangers, under Steven Gerrard, are expected to improve, as are Aberdeen and Hibernian. With Stuart Armstrong being linked down south, though, a new playmaker could be required. The Daily Mail claim West Brom and Brighton are keen.
Gauld already has 43 appearances in the Scottish Premiership under his belt and is renowned for his technical abilites, eye for goal and speed while dribbling. Yet to be properly used by Sporting, his talent is going to waste.
Brendan Rodgers is renowned for getting the best out of players and nurturing potential, so landing Gauld as Armstrong’s potential replacement would be a major Celtic coup – ahead of Old Firm rivals Rangers.