Ange Postecoglou wants Celtic to put their move for Crystal Palace midfielder James McCarthy on hold, according to Give Me Sport.
The Lowdown: Celtic’s long-standing interest
The Hoops have been keeping tabs on the central midfielder for some time after first being credited with an interest way back in November ahead of a possible pre-contract agreement.
However, as we know, a New Year deal never materialised, although reports in May suggested that Celtic were set to sign McCarthy this summer.
Postecoglou was announced as Neil Lennon’s successor earlier this month, but it seems as if he isn’t so keen on a deal for the Republic of Ireland international who Roy Hodgson labelled ‘class’ last year.
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The Latest: McCarthy latest
Give Me Sport shared a transfer story on Tuesday, claiming Postecoglou wants the Hoops to move for Australian midfielder Aaron Mooy ahead of McCarthy.
A deal for McCarthy was at an advanced stage, but Postecoglou wants to prioritise a move for Mooy over the Palace man.
The report adds that a deal for McCarthy remains tentatively in place.
The Verdict: Mooy or McCarthy?
Should Postecoglou prefer Mooy over McCarthy, then Celtic should listen to their new manager’s demands and pursue a deal for the former Brighton midfielder.
Both players have experience in the Premier League and are 30 years of age, but if Postecoglou wants Mooy, then the Hoops should certainly explore a deal after talk over a Hoops approach for the player emerged recently.
One stumbling block could be Mooy’s salary, as he is on £3m-a-year in China, but Celtic can at least give it a go and could then seal a deal for McCarthy if a move for Mooy isn’t financially possible.
In other news: Hoops considering move for Manchester City man, find out more here.