Moment Celtic could have snapped up Moises Caicedo for just £1m – and who the Hoops signed instead
THERE’S a great list of players who nearly played for either half of the Old Firm – and now you can add Chelsea’s new £115m man Moises Caicedo to the list.
Back then, Celtic were going for their tenth title in a row – with Neil Lennon at the helm.
Caicedo was an impressive 21-year-old at Independiente del Valle and according to the Daily Mail, a former Parkhead talent spotter “sent back a recommendation to Glasgow to sign him”.
For whatever reason, it wasn’t acted upon – with the Hoops instead making good on a promise to sign David Turnbull upon his recovery from injury.
In too came Vasilis Barkas from AEK Athens and Albian Ajeti, plus Diego Laxalt on-loan.
With the exception of Turnbull, none of the others have proved to be an asset to the Parkhead club.
While Caicedo, who went to Brighton 12 months down the line, has made himself into an £100m-plus player and turned Brighton a remarkable profit into the bargain.
But it has to go down as another near miss for the Hoops – who obviously lost out to historic rivals Rangers that season.
Meanwhile, SunSport columnist Kris Boyd reckons Celtic must SELL Reo Hatate if he isn’t prepared to commit to a long term contract at the club.
Brighton again have been credited with an interest in the player, although they already have plentiful options to replace the departed Caicedo.
Boyd write: “Maybe Reo Hatate has done something to annoy Brendan Rodgers.
“Perhaps the Japanese midfielder had an attitude problem within the dressing room.
“Or possibly there was a wee streak of arrogance that shone through when the Celtic manager first took charge.
“Whatever it was, there’s clearly something that explains why Hatate lost his place in the team.
“No harm to David Turnbull, but don’t try to tell me he’s a better player than Hatate.
“Yet he was the one who started the first two games of the season? Sorry, that makes no sense.”
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