There’s always a pinch of salt that has to be taken when players are linked with both sides of the Old Firm, however, given that we have similar budgets and will shop in the same markets, it wouldn’t be the first time that we are chasing the same signature.
One of those is Wales international Rabbi Matondo who looks to have been given the go ahead to find a new club with Schalke hoping to cash in on him this summer before his contract expires at the end of the season, a fee of around £3million seemingly enough for them to part ways, well within both our and Celtic’s price range.
With Rangers already said to have started negotiations, WalesOnline has followed these claims by revealing that they also believe this to be true:
“Reports on the continent have previously suggested that the 21-year-old was close to signing on for Anderlecht before Vincent Kompany’s departure, while Fulham and Bournemouth have also shown an interest in taking him to the Premier League.
“However, it appears Matondo, who’s currently away with Rob Page’s Wales Squad, could now be on his way to Glasgow. Indeed, WalesOnline understands talks with both Old Firm clubs have already begun.”
Given his valuation and the fact that he is off the back of a campaign where he has scored 10 and created two goals in 27 games in the Jupiler Pro League in Belgium, he won’t be short of admirers, that he also counts as a home grown player for English clubs due to his development at Manchester City’s academy only increases the likelihood of teams from down south being interested.
More goals and more quality is certainly something that we need in our forward line, if we want Matondo, speed could well be the name of the game – much like the player himself.