David Turnbull’s transfer saga was one of the significant stories of the summer in the Scottish Premiership. The Motherwell midfielder came close to securing a move to Celtic, but the move fell through under spectacular circumstances. The midfielder had a problem in getting through the medical and the Hoops decided to call off the deal. Turnbull then underwent surgery, and he has missed the season so far.
Motherwell coach Keith Lasley indicated that the club would not rush him into action and he could be back in January. So will be Celtic as reports from the Scottish Sun suggests that the reigning Scottish champions will reactivate their interest in the midfielder once he recovers fully.
On the back of his terrific 2018-19 campaign, the Hoops were willing to shell out £3.25m for him in the summer. Turnbull grabbed 17 goals and nine assists last season playing as a midfielder. It remains to be seen now whether the 20-year-old would be able to get back to his former best after his knee surgery.
It is not surprising to see Celtic reigniting their interest for Turnbull again as he is still just 20. Also, he has time and age on his side to recover from a lengthy injury setback.
Does Celtic need midfielders?
Lennon often relies on the pair of Scott Brown and Callum McGregor to start in the middle. However, it cannot be ignored that Brown is already 34 and he wouldn’t be around for long.
Olivier Ntcham is also a top option to have, but he too doesn’t seem like a player who will be with the Hoops for the long run. Therefore the signing of Turnbull wouldn’t be a bad idea. He can be an understudy for the first-team options for the time being before he gets regular chances to start in the first eleven.
What will Turnbull bring at Parkhead?
The 20-year-old is known for his ball control and ability to carry the ball from midfield. He can get out of tight spaces in the middle, and is someone who always tries to make things happen in the final third. It wouldn’t be surprising to see Turnbull play as an attacking midfielder at Parkhead. The Scotsman’s ability to find the back of the net is also a crucial factor, and he is calm and composed in front of goal for a young player who is just making his stride in top-flight football.
Turnbull is still a raw talent, but the signs are there that he is a star in the making. Celtic are definitely right in going back for him again as they wouldn’t want to miss out on another top midfielder as they did in the John McGinn case.
