Josip Juranovic became the biggest mover of the January window in Scotland so far when he left Celtic for Union Berlin in a £10m deal at the weekend. But could there be another major transfer shaker at Parkhead with Giorgos Giakoumakis left out the squad to face Morton on Saturday amid heavy speculation he’s set for a £4m departure with interest in Japan, America and Europe?
Both players only signed 18 months ago. But Andy Logan, Livingston, reckons it’s good business as opposed to Rangers allowing stars like Ryan Kent and Alfredo Morelos to run down their deals. He said: “Hotline caller George Wilson keeps banging on about the business Celtic do but that’s another £7million-plus profit on Juranovic. That’s what you can do with a proper business model. You don’t let contracts run down then see the frauds up their performances. I would feel cheated. But I still think they will sign new deals as no one wants them.”
But Martin Baird, Glasgow, said: “It appears that three key Celtic players are all jumping ship mid-season. Only four months from potentially winning titles and cups. Juranovic, Jenz and Giakoumakis are all forcing moves away only to be replaced by unknown unproven players. This is not good business by Celtic as some suggest. Why now? Is something wrong at Celtic?”
Coming from the other side Tam Williamson, Lanarkshire, took a swipe at Michael Beale’s hopes of success at Rangers and claimed: “Beale will be gone before the end of the season. He had more money to spend at QPR than he has at Ibrox and failed miserably. The QPR fans have extended their New Year celebrations since they seen the back of him and Celtic must thank their lucky stars for failing to sign Ben Davies.”
It was never going to take long to get back to a VAR war, especially after Celtic’s contentious penalty award to open the scoring in the 5-0 Scottish Cup rout of Morton.
Kenny Wilson, Moffat, blasted: “After yet another ridiculous VAR decision it’s about time officials were made to come out publicly and explain why these decisions are made cause no one anywhere thinks the penalty against Morton was one. Our officials are constantly ruining games and have done for years and now still can’t get the right decision with four angles in slow motion. If I was as bad at my job I would be out of a job by now.”
Hoops fans claimed in yesterday’s Hotline that recent dodgy decisions in their favour were part of a cover-up by Rangers-biased officials to hide their allegiance!
But Alfie Mullin, London, said; “Celtic fans are never happy. For weeks now, they've been complaining that they've been getting nothing from VAR. In the last two cup games, decisions went their way and they're still complaining. They're trying to say that they've had token decisions and now the officials, can get back to helping Rangers. You couldn't make it up. These people are living in cloud cuckoo land.”
Willie Mercer, Dumfries, added: “How amusing it is that two Hotline callers managed to twist the award of a penalty award to Celtic into their paranoid narrative that this was part of the conspiracy by referees and the SFA to assist the blue side of Glasgow. Their bias vision is blinding them to other such poor calls in games not involving the Old Firm and to the fact that our referees are just rank rotten.”
But Paul McArdle, Gourock, hit back: “All Celtic fans are mortified with the penalty we got against Morton and shocked we didn't get the other one Ambrose handled. That's the difference, Rangers fan revel in the luck their beloved refs and VAR team give them, they don't care if other teams are cheated because they have no morals or integrity it's win at all costs.”
Robert McEwan, Mount Vernon, added: “If people think we Celtic fans are happy getting a few decisions by VAR forget it. It will never make up for pathetic one's we didn't get. Nice to get them when you can count on them.”
Finally, a Scottish sporting story guaranteed to unite the phone lines, Andy Murray. The Dunblane ace bowed out of the Australian Open at the weekend but not before proving there’s life in his limbs with two heroic victories.
Issy Currie, Caithness, said: “Sir Andy surely has the necessities to continue to play in all elite events. His matches at the Aussie Open were quite incredible! I hope he has success this season and can retire with dignity as quite honestly he has absolutely nothing to prove! What a superb example!“
And Kevin Lord, Drylaw, added: “It is quite unbelievable to hear people laud over payed and over estimated footballers when an athlete of this dedication walks on this planet.”
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