Ronny’s recruitment drive maybe matter of national interest
RONNY DEILA last night admitted he is keeping tabs on Gordon Strachan’s entire national squad as he bids to strengthen the Scottish contingent at Celtic.
Having already spoken in warm terms of Shaun Maloney this weekend, Deila confirmed that Watford winger Ikechi Anya is another player under consideration as the club prepares to make use of this month’s transfer window.
Both Anya and Maloney have been key attacking figures for Strachan’s team during an impressive start to the Euro 2016 qualifiers and Deila revealed that he has spoken to Scott Brown, captain of both club and country, for the lowdown on his national team-mates.
Winger Anya (right) currently plies his trade at English Championship side Watford but has long been linked with a £1.5million switch to Glasgow. Wigan are thought to be holding out £1m for Maloney, already the subject of a failed £750,000 bid from Leicester City this month and a return to Celtic would mark his third spell with the club where his career began.
‘We are looking at every player in the Scotland team,’ said Deila. ‘We have a lot of players on our list. Both of them (Anya and Maloney) have done well for Scotland and I want to have the team as Scottish as possible because it is crucial the players feel commitment to Celtic.
‘I speak to Scott, that’s vital because the players know each other best. The staff, John Kennedy and John Collins, also know everything about Scotland. That is important for me because I didn’t have the same knowledge when I came. Now I feel I have a good control over that.
‘I have enjoyed watching Scotland play —especially against Poland away, I was impressed. Gordon Strachan has done very well. They enjoy playing and they believe they can win.’
While Deila’s recruitment strategy takes shape, he admitted it is not yet certain that back-up goalkeeper Lukasz Zaluska will leave the club when his contract expires. The Pole has acted as back-up since signing from Dundee United in 2009 and reaches the end of his current deal in the summer.
Having played second fiddle to Artur Boruc, Fraser Forster and now Craig Gordon, it seems inconceivable that the 32-year-old will ever seriously challenge for the No1 spot but Deila insists he can see improvement.
‘We will look at that but Lukasz is developing also and he might stay,’ he continued. ‘We will see. We have a very strong No1.’
Deila hopes to bring back defender Jason Denayer for the Premiership match against Hamilton next weekend, while Mikael Lustig is also nearing a return.
Charlie Mulgrew, however, will need to wait a little longer.
‘Charlie is training with the ball but we have to be careful as this injury is susceptible to setbacks,’ said Deila. ‘He might feel nothing but the specialist has said we need to keep it low for the next couple of weeks.
‘It’s inflammation in the knee. It could blow up again if he starts too early. He feels well and he might be ready a week or two down the line.’
Although his team finds itself in the unusual position of trailing Aberdeen at the top of the league, Deila insists Celtic will return from the winter training camp in Gran Canaria ready to go on a run that will restore them to the top of the pile.
‘I think we look much sharper, much leaner and have a lot of energy,’ he added. ‘I see players like Nir Bitton, who is a very good player and grows with every game. Adam Matthews was out for a long time and I see now that he is sharp and better.
‘I see improvement in every player and that makes me confident that we are going to have a good period.’