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20/12/2022 | 01:45pm
A possible precedence for Celtic within the January switch window might properly be a brand new centre-forward addition, with the Parkhead outfit doubtlessly getting ready for the chance of getting to switch contract insurgent Giorgos Giakoumakis.
With the Greece worldwide attracting notable curiosity after reportedly failing to agree phrases concerning a wage improve on the Premiership champions, there’s a distinct chance that the 28-year-old might depart Glasgow subsequent month, leaving Ange Postecoglou reasonably gentle within the attacking ranks.
One potential resolution to that drawback has emerged within the type of Sunderland striker Ross Stewart, with the Outdated Agency outfit believed to be ‘ready within the wings‘ for the Scotland marksman amid the uncertainty surrounding his future on the Stadium of Gentle.
The suggestion is that the 26-year-old has but to commit himself to the Black Cats regardless of having simply six months remaining on his present contract , having seemingly turned down the prospect to grow to be the Championship membership’s highest-paid participant.
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Nonetheless, Tony Mowbray’s facet do have the choice to increase Stewart’s present contract an additional 12 months, with that truth reportedly seeing the Wearside outfit slap a £10m price ticket on the previous Ross County man’s head.
Regardless of that hefty asking worth, a transfer for the 26-year-old might properly be value it so far as the Scottish champions are involved, with Stewart having been in “unbelievable” kind throughout his time south of the border, in keeping with Sunderland team-mate Alex Pritchard.
After beforehand scoring 28 targets in 82 video games throughout his time at Dingwall, the 6 foot 2 marksman has since netted 35 targets and registered eight assists in 73 video games for his present membership, together with six targets and three assists in simply eight outings in England’s second tier this time period.
Such prolific kind might even see the one-time St Mirren man likened to Portugal’s World Cup hero, Goncalo Ramos, with the pair stated to share a lot of statistical and stylistic similarities in keeping with FBref.
That’s evidenced by the truth that Ramos – who scored a hat-trick on his first begin for his nation within the 6-1 thrashing of Switzerland in Qatar – notably ranks within the prime 5% in his place (in Males’s Subsequent eight competitions) for non-penalty targets, whereas Stewart ranks within the prime 1% in that regard, albeit having featured much less incessantly.
Equally, that similarity can also be evidenced by their work ethic in assault, with the latter averaging 1.36 tackles per recreation, whereas the Benfica sensation is simply simply behind as he averages 0.92 tackles per recreation from his placing berth.
That willingness to place within the onerous yards defensively is clearly a trait that each males share. Stewart has been lauded as a participant who has “bought every part” by the aforementioned Pritchard attributable to his hold-up play and need to run in behind, whereas Ramos has additionally been described as a participant who “by no means provides up” by team-mate Alejandro Grimaldo.
Who is that this former Celtic participant?
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With the ability to land an asset much like that of the Portuguese hotshot would show an actual coup for Postecoglou and co, with the 21-year-old Ramos having been in prolific kind in current instances, scoring 14 targets and registering six assists in simply 21 video games in all competitions to date this time period for Benfica.
To have the ability to safe a solution to such a highly-coveted determine – who’s reportedly attracting the eye of Manchester United – within the type of Sunderland talisman Stewart might properly assist to provide Celtic a fair better raise heading into the second half of the season.