Celtic’s dominance in Scottish football witnessed its peak since Brendan Rodgers’ appointment as the Parkhead gaffer who scripted an unbeaten treble triumph in his debut season at Celtic Park. The ex-Liverpool and Swansea City boss used his Premier League influence in the transfer market to strengthen the Hoops and the team is now on course of successive treble wins. They, however, might struggle to keep hold of their star performers in the summer as winger Scott Sinclair is reportedly being targeted by Bournemouth and Brighton & Hove Albion, the Premier League duo, who are ready to offer him a return to English football from next season onwards.
Sinclair’s £3.5 million transfer from Aston Villa was a strong statement of intent from the Northern Irishman who took no time to have fans’ backing following a successful transfer window with top-notch signings and stupendous brand of football. Sinclair, the former Chelsea youngster, clinched a remarkable Premier League promotion under Rodgers during his Swansea City days but a move to Manchester City stalled his career growth due to lack of opportunities in a star-studded City squad.
A couple of loan spells did not help the wingman much to resurrect his Manchester City career and the former English youth international completed a permanent move to Aston Villa, a struggling Premier League outfit where he had a short-term loan spell the season before. Sinclair’s performance was no good but Villa were shambolic and eventually suffered an obvious relegation.
Rodgers, meanwhile, was appointed as Celtic boss in 2016 and offered Sinclair a second opportunity to re-establish himself under his guidance. The attacker grabbed the chance and notched 25 goals in 50 appearances to mark his debut season in Scottish football as an enormous success. Although Sinclair has found the net 17 times so far this season, his latest barren run has generated anxiety at Parkhead and the player, surprisingly, was left among the unused substitutes in the famous Old Firm derby fixture against Rangers FC at Ibrox Stadium. 10-man Celtic registered a dramatic 3-2 win coming back from behind twice in the first-half but a player of Sinclair’s caliber was not even introduced at any stage of the high-voltage encounter.
Sinclair’s transfer rumors surfaced on his 29th birthday and both the Cherries and Seagulls are now looking to add his experience down the flanks. These two sides are likely to retain their top-flight status and weighing up the options they might avail when the transfer window will reopen in three months time. But his egress will be a huge setback for Brendan Rodgers who is aware of Sinclair’s ability and impact on his Celtic side and must turn down offers if received for the Englishman in near future. He is already uncertain about Moussa Dembele’s Celtic future who will draw the attention of multiple Premier League outfits whereas young attacker Patrick Roberts is set to return to Manchester City upon completion of his loan spell this summer. The gaffer thus must dive into the transfer market once more to revamp the attack but must try his best to keep hold of the prolific winger first.
