Celtic told to sign ‘next Virgil van Dijk’ after confirmed news – expert
Frank McAvennie has claimed Celtic need to sign another player like Virgil van Dijk.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Hoops striker said the Parkhead club is a stepping stone for those looking to be top players.
On Friday (1 July) Celtic announced the signing of Jota, 23, on a permanent deal from Benfica.
The winger penned a five year contract with the Parkhead club.
Jota becomes Ange Postecoglou’s fifth summer signing following the arrivals of Alexandro Bernabei and Benjamin Siegrist.
Cameron Carter-Vickers and Daizen Maeda have made their loan moves permanent.
McAvennie claimed Celtic’s recruitment “hasn’t been right” in recent years.
“I think what we have to do is get players that are going to be big, like your Van Dijks.” he told Football Insider.
“He came to Celtic, you could see that he was top drawer. He had to move to somebody like Southampton because he didn’t get that much competition up here because he just read the game so well. You could see he was going to make it to the top.
“They’ve [Celtic] been doing that for years, it’s just in the last couple that they haven’t been. Recruitment hasn’t been right.
“So I think, hopefully, we can get these boys coming over from wherever. Celtic is a stepping stone and they’ll thoroughly enjoy it, they’ll win things, they’ll be challenging on all fronts you can’t get better education than that in football terms.
“I think Ange [Postecoglou] will know who will be a top player but a couple more signings like van Dijk would be wonderful.“
In other news, an ex-teammate issues verdict on Benji Siegrist ousting Joe Hart after confirmed Celtic news.