Why Celtic Should Complete A Move For Jonny Hayes This Summer
Oh dear. After having had a free run at second place in the absence of a recognisable Rangers team in Scotland’s top level, the wheels could be coming off at Aberdeen.
Top midfielder and captain Ryan Jack has joined the Gers and the manager may well be on his way to England. The latest to ditch the club looks like winger Jonny Hayes, who is reportedly on the verge of completing a £1.2million move to champions Celtic.
Brendan Rodgers’ side created history last season by going through the entire domestic season unbeaten, though the manager knows fully well that their performances in Europe need to improve markedly. Looking at social media etc, it seems the Celtic support isn’t overly excited by the apparent arrival of Hayes, though they must see the bigger picture.
First thing is first, it would be fair to say that Hayes is not in the same league as Patrick Roberts. Some fans have commented that he isn’t even as good as current squad player James Forrest and so therefore are questioning the signing. However, others have called Hayes the best player in Scotland outside of the Celtic squad and so taking that very simple view, it would make sense for Rodgers to get him to the club.
Just as we have commented before regarding the move of Jack and potential transfer of Callum Paterson, the transfer isn’t simply a plus for Celtic but a major blow for Aberdeen. It’s good to see a lack of arrogance in Rodgers, knowing that the next season may not be as successful. Should the team perform better in the Champions League, there may be a detrimental effect felt in the league.
Taking away one of their chief opposition’s best players makes sense in terms of the overall war. It’s a tactic that has worked well in Scotland over the years, keeping the big two at the top and the rest somewhere else, just as in Spain.
Hayes is an old-fashioned winger, something that is missing from the game in general. His very basic game plan is to receive the ball, run hell for leather at the full-back and get his crosses away. Until we know what sort of striker the club will bring in over the summer, we shouldn’t be too quick to criticise his arrival.
On a personal level for the player himself, it’s only fair that after what he has achieved, he should get the chance to win some silverware. Had Aberdeen managed to keep Hayes, Jack and McInnes to name three, they may yet have posed a major threat to Celtic domestically and this is why it is important for Celtic to complete this deal.