---
title: "Celtic: Bhoys urged away from signing James McCarthy"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/celtic-bhoys-urged-away-from-signing-james-mccarthy/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Nathan Linley"
section: "Celtic News"
published: "2021-01-26T19:00:21Z"
modified: "2021-01-26T19:00:21Z"
---

# Celtic: Bhoys urged away from signing James McCarthy

**Former Celtic icon Frank McAvennie has warned the Bhoys not to go after Crystal Palace midfielder James McCarthy this month.**

### McAvennie issues warning

The 30-year-old has been [heavily linked](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-9172479/Celtic-interested-signing-Crystal-Palace-midfielder-James-McCarthy.html) with a move to Glasgow in recent days having found himself playing considerably less than in years gone by at Selhurst Park.

McCarthy, who earns [£50k-per-week](https://salarysport.com/football/player/james-mccarthy/) at Palace, has started just [five](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/31281/Show/James-McCarthy) games and is coming towards the back end of his career, whereas Celtic have always been [known](https://thecelticbhoys.com/2020/11/09/celtic-handed-moussa-dembele-blow/#:~:text=There%20is%20no%20hiding%20from,recent%20years%20was%20Moussa%20Dembele.) for buying fresh faces and selling them on for a considerable profit.

\[freshpress-quiz id=”338175″\]

Speaking to [Football Insider](https://www.footballinsider247.com/pundit-view-celtic-told-to-spend-cash-elsewhere-after-approach-to-sign-proven-pl-star/), McAvennie was quick to tempt them away from the idea of bringing the Republic of Ireland international to Parkhead.

“Celtic sign so they can sell on, sadly that is the way they are now,” he said.

“I do not have a problem with that but McCarthy is 30 and therefore he does not have much sell on value.

“Turnbull and Soro are the future of that midfield and I would rather see the money spent elsewhere.

“Those two are growing in every game. Soro is putting great tackles in and Turnbull is just everywhere – they complement each other well.”

### Transfer Tavern Verdict

McAvennie is right. This is an unusual step for the board to take, moving away from a transfer system that has kept them at the top for so long.

With [reports](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/celtic-transfer-rumours/celtic-huge-development-dropped-on-potential-january-signings/) suggesting that there may not be any incoming players this month, time will tell how this will affect Neil Lennon’s side going forward, but it does seem a mighty risk to bring in an ageing player who will compete for minutes with two rising stars in Turnbull and Soro.

*In other news, **[Huge development dropped on potential incoming Celtic signings this month](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/celtic-transfer-rumours/celtic-huge-development-dropped-on-potential-january-signings/)**.*