The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Former Dee star target for United
Spanish defender Extabeguren now on Tannadice radar
Centre-backs Julen Extabeguren and Callum Morris are on Dundee United’s radar, Courier Sport can reveal.
But the Tannadice club will have a battle on their hands to sign either of them.
The former Dundee defender is understood to be keen on a return to Spain after being released by Neil Mccann at the end of last season.
United old boy Morris has told Dunfermline he won’t be staying at East End Park but his first choice would be a club in England.
The Tangerines are in the market for two centre-backs, with Mark Durnan set to sign for Dunfermline, Bilel Mohsni having decided to move on and William Edjenguele and Tam Scobbie told by manager Csaba Laszlo they are free to find other clubs.
United have already made five summer signings – Sam Wardrop, Callum Booth, Nicky Clark, Fraser Aird and Craig Curran.
Meanwhile, keeper Deniz Mehmet has confirmed on social media that his knee operation was successful.
Nadir may have reached his nadir with the news that he is being released from his Celtic contract a year early.
Nevertheless, Ciftci delivered the high point of the Jackie Mcnamara era at Dundee United and will never be forgotten by grateful fans for that reason. The date was Saturday April 12 2014. The venue was a “neutral” Ibrox.
The occasion was a Scottish Cup semifinal between the Tangerines and Rangers.
United’s supporters had made a valiant effort to turn the Light Blues’ home ground as tangerine as possible, with thousands packed behind the goal in the Broomloan Stand and thousands more filling sections of the Govan/sandy Jardine Stand.
This was peak Mcnamara.
The Tannadice manager’s team was brimful of talent including Andy Robertson, John Souttar, Ryan Gauld, Stuart Armstrong and Gary Mackaysteven.
The Rangers side contained recent United signings Fraser Aird and Nicky Clark, as well as Bilel Mohsni and Jon Daly.
The one player who stole the show, however, was Ciftci.
Goals from Armstrong and Mackaysteven gave the “visitors” the edge before Steven Smith’s freekick squeezed between keeper Rado Cierzniak and his post to let Rangers back into the match just before the break. It would fall to the affable Turk to put clear blue water between the sides when, with just seven minutes remaining, he pounced after goalkeeper Steve Simonsen made a hash of a clearance.
Had Ciftci just got on with the job of scoring it wouldn’t have been such a memorable goal.
Rather, it was his celebration BEFORE he kicked the ball into the empty net – arms were spread and raised in triumph – that made it special for the Tannadice faithful and secured him a place in club folklore.
He then cupped his hand to his ear as if to taunt the silent Light Blues fans but all he would be able to hear was the roar of the United support, for whom he could do no wrong.
Where Ciftci goes when he leaves Celtic Park is anyone’s guess and his time with the Tangerines wasn’t always a bed of roses – the infamous bitegate episode involving victim Jim Mcalister of Dundee certainly merits a mention.
Nevertheless, if he ever makes it back to Tannadice – even decades from now – he will get a warm welcome. He remains a hero.