Why Viktor Fischer Would Be A Good Signing For Celtic
According to reports, Celtic currently head a number of clubs looking to sign Middlesbrough man Viktor Fischer. Relegated and managerless, the Teessiders may find themselves selling off some prized assets and the 22-year-old Danish international looks like being one of them. Fischer only appeared 13 times (6 starts) for Boro in the Premier League last season, not managing to score in the top division.
Fischer moved to Middlesbrough from Ajax in the summer of 2016 for £3.8million but has failed to fire in England. Clubs in the Netherlands are keen to take him back to the Eredivisie, though he appears to fit the bill as far as Brendan Rodgers is concerned and may find himself as the subject of a bid from Parkhead.
Fischer is already familiar to fans at Celtic Park having scored there in Ajax’s 2-1 win in the Europa League back in 2015. The midfield man has played 15 times for his country and at just 22, has plenty more to offer in the game yet.
Fischer has an eye for a killer pass and perhaps was never going to be seen at his best at the bottom of the Premier League, especially in a side that struggled, particularly while going forward. Despite his team’s position and his own lack of playing time, the boy from Aarhus managed to set up 3 goals; one as a substitute, one having started on the left and one from a central position.
The Dane had a pass completion rate of 80% in the Premier League, made an average of 11.2 passes per game and made 0.5 key passes each time. Those stats would rise dramatically playing in the Scottish Premiership and so Fischer would certainly add a touch of quality to the side. Rather than as an extra to the current crop, it may well be worth for Celtic to sell midfielder Stuart Armstrong and replace him with the former Ajax man, which would probably represent an improvement to the squad.
Fischer is comfortable right across the front line or in the midfield, but does need to add more goals to his game. 137 first team games in the Eredivisie, Eerste Divisie, the Premier League and various cups have produced 35 goals and I’m sure that’s an area he will get better with time. His goal output would surely improve in Scotland and that could give him the confidence to go on.