OPINION
Chris Sutton is surely tearing his hair out after it was confirmed that Uche Ikpeazu has signed a new deal with Hearts.
The Edinburgh club announced via their official Twitter account on Thursday that Ikpeazu, 24, had penned a contract extension that keeps him at Tynecastle until 2022.
Unfortunately for Sutton, this comes after he claimed that Celtic should sign the centre-forward in the summer transfer window.
?? @UcheIkpeazu has committed his future to Hearts by signing a contract extension until 2022
? https://t.co/oDfAXqLak6 pic.twitter.com/gopPMJY8vV
— Heart of Midlothian FC (@JamTarts) March 7, 2019
Writing for the Daily Record, Sutton said that Ikpeazu would add a “different option” to Celtic’s attack because he is an “absolute nightmare” to play against.
He’s not wrong.
Although Izkpeazu has scored just four goals in 16 appearances across all competitions this season, he has had a major contribution in the Hearts attack, supplying four assists, creating space for his team-mates and most importantly, leaving defenders completely rattled.
No one wants to play against the 6ft 3 (transfermarkt) powerhouse and that is why he would have made a good signing for the Bhoys in the summer as they are likely to need one or two new strikers signed when Oliver Burke and Timothy Weah see their loan deals expire.
However Hearts’ announcement on Thursday all but ends any hopes that Celtic might have had of signing Ikpeazu in the summer, and Sutton will certainly be gutted that the 24-year-old won’t be heading to Parkhead after his claim.
Whoever is in charge of the Bhoys after Neil Lennon’s temporary stay ends is going to have a huge job on their hands.
A lot of players might be on their way out of Celtic Park in the summer and they not only need to be replaced, they need to be upgraded.