Coyle: I tried to sign this Celtic star in a cut-price deal last summer
By Matt Farr
Former Blackburn Rovers manager Owen Coyle admits he tried to sign Celtic star Stuart Armstrong on the cheap a year ago.
The 25-year-old midfielder was in stunning form for Celtic last season, contributing 17 goals and seven assists from 47 appearances in all competitions as the Scottish club cruised to a domestic treble.
Armstrong had moved to Parkhead from Scottish rivals Dundee United in 2015, but had struggled to earn regular opportunities in the first-team squad until the arrival of manager Brendan Rodgers a year ago.
He has since become an indispensable member of Rodgers’ senior ranks, and his performances over the course of last season has seen his stock rise ahead of the summer transfer window.
Coyle, who is currently without a job, admitted he tried to sign Armstrong for little over £1million, but the Scotland international is now worth considerable more on the market.
The Express claimed last month that several Premier League clubs were prepared to pay as much as £8million for his services.
That would have seen Coyle and Blackburn pull-off an impressive cut-price deal for the player, who no doubt could have had a big impact at the club.
Coyle told BBC Radio Scotland: “If I think back to last August, I tried to sign Stuart Armstrong for Blackburn Rovers when he wasn’t in the team. He’s a player I’ve always admired.
“I tried to offer just over £1m. Celtic had bought him for probably just £1.5m, £1.75m, whatever it was.
“Now, a year later, Stuart Armstrong, that value is maybe four, five, six times that.”
Armstrong is under contract at Celtic for one more year, which has alerted a number of sides to his potential availability.
But after last season’s exploits, Rodgers will no doubt be looking to extend the future of one his most consistent, and most reliable assts.
In other Celtic news, Tosh McKinlay believes it would be great for everyone at the club if this player signed a new deal.
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