OPINION
Celtic must attempt to sign Chelsea midfielder Marco van Ginkel next year amid the likelihood that the Netherlands international could be available on a cheap deal and plays in a position that needs bolstering by Brendan Rodgers in 2019.
Van Ginkel, 25, joined Chelsea in 2013 but has barely kicked a ball for the Premier League giants and has spent five seasons out on loan.
However the Blues outcast is currently at Stamford Bridge as he has been ruled out of action until early next year having had a surgery on a knee injury he picked up in the summer.
If van Ginkel didn’t suffer that injury then it is likely that he would have left Chelsea by now, but that is perfect for Celtic because they could take advantage of what is bound to be a massively reduced asking price as the player will be in the final year of his £25,000-a-week (Spotrac) contract next summer.
According to football.london, Chelsea wanted £10million for van Ginkel before his injury in the summer after he helped PSV Eindhoven win the Dutch Eredivise title, but that is likely to be much lower in the near future.
While playing for PSV last term, in his third season on loan in the Netherlands, the ex-Vitesse playmaker scored a huge 16 goals and supplied five assists in 33 appearances across all competitions.
The Eredivisie is definitely a stronger league than the Scottish Premiership so to get those kinds of numbers in a strong league is definitely something that should catch Rodgers’ attention.
If van Ginkel hasn’t lost any of his ability or fitness once he returns to action, going after him is an absolute no-brainer.
Celtic’s central midfield options have been decimated by injury this season and it wouldn’t hurt to bring in a player who is much younger than Scott Brown or Youssouf Mulumbu, who have also been injured lately.
Paradise will erupt if Rodgers is able to sign a player with the talents of van Ginkel and if he is able to pull off a deal in the summer or 2019, then the Bhoys will have someone who will dominate Scottish football for years to come and be part of their march to 10 in a row.