Ange Postecoglou’s appointment as the new Celtic boss has led to a frenzy of rage among the supporters, but his Aussie connection might benefit the Bhoys amid rumours of a potential summer swoop for Brighton & Hove Albion goalkeeper Matthew Ryan as claimed by Alex Crook live on TalkSPORT (cited by Football.London).
The 29-year-old Australian international joined the newly-promoted Seagulls from Valencia back in the summer of 2017. He went on to make 121 league appearances between the sticks before leaving for Arsenal earlier this year during the winter window. He featured 3 times for the Gunners and the loan deal might be made permanent in the coming days amid rumours of Bernd Leno’s egress with ‘no great appetite’ for talks over a new contract.
However, the London heavyweights are also keen on Ajax keeper Andre Onana who has appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in order to reduce his 12-month doping ban. He will be available in a few months’ time if the suspension (currently until February 2022) is minimized and his arrival would jeopardize Ryan’s starting status even if Leno finds a new club prior to the upcoming term.
Why Ryan Should Consider A Reunion With His Old Boss
Celtic, meanwhile, are in desperate need of a stable ‘number 1’. Vasilis Barkas turned out to be a transfer nightmare following his high-profile move from AEK Athens a year ago, also the likes of Scott Bain and Conor Hazard can’t be deemed as the best alternatives despite impressing on a few occasions.
Barkas might return to AEK after losing his place at Parkhead and a player of Ryan’s profile should consider a reunion with Postecoglou who identified and promoted him as the new first-choice custodian when veteran Mark Schwarzer decided to hang up his boots.
Although the offer from North London would be more fascinating, the player should opt for first-team football at such a stage of his métier. Arsenal failed to promote Emiliano Martínez who waited patiently for 10 years before leaving for Aston Villa last summer and his instant impact at Villa Park has cast doubts over the farsightedness of the Gunners’ recruitment team. Ryan would not want to end up playing limited games and with no European football next season at the Emirates, the Socceroos star should re-evaluate all the possibilities before taking the next career step.
Celtic are set to undergo a massive overhaul with multiple key exits and it is to be seen now whether Postecoglou makes the most of his influence to tie down Matthew Ryan as the first move towards the rebuilding work.
