According to the latest reports from The Scottish Sun, Celtic are lining up a cut-price deal for Manchester City winger Brandon Barker. Barker had previously worked with Neil Lennon when he was on loan with Hibernian. Reports say that Lennon admires Barker and that could be the primary reason why he wants him at Celtic.
Barker has just one year left on his current deal with Manchester City, and he could be tempted to move in the summer. There is no way that he is going to come close towards making an appearance in the senior City side so we feel that even the club might also want to ship him away in the summer.
The English winger made 30 appearances for the Hibs, and he came up with two goals in the 2017-18 season. Lennon had lavished huge praises on him at that time as he had said two years back, ”I just enjoy watching him play. He is a throwback. He wants to get to the byeline, he wants to get inside, he has that dynamic burst of pace, and he wants to take people on.”
“Some people say his end product is not great, but that’s nit-picking completely. When you have three players hanging off you, and you are running 40 yards with the ball at that pace, it is a very difficult thing to do. He is a very exciting player. I have admired him for a long time.”
Does Celtic need Barker?
Scott Sinclair has looked below par in the last few months and even though he is set to stay at Celtic for another year, he isn’t a long term left-wing option for the club. Apart from him, there are no standout left wing options for the Bhoys and the club needs to think about adding one.
Is Barker Good enough for Celtic?
Lennon might be a big fan of him, but we aren’t. Yes, he might produce that breathtaking moment where he would go past players because of his pace, but his final product is questionable. Last season, the Englishman spent his time on loan with Championship outfit Preston where the winger made 16 appearances for them and assisted two goals and scored none. He also struggled with injuries and has been far too inconsistent throughout his career.
At Hibs, he might have looked like a standout player, but we don’t think that Barker is of Celtic quality. It would be better for Lennon to hand Lewis Morgan and Jonny Hayes some chances over the Manchester City winger.
