Celtic supporters are in high spirits in the Transfer Tavern are seeing their side come from behind to take a 3-1 lead over Rosenborg into the second leg of their Champions League qualifier.
Brendan Rodgers’ men eased past Armenian outfit Alashkert 6-0 on aggregate in the first qualifying round as they bid to reach the group stages for a third successive season, although they fell behind at Parkhead on Wednesday night thanks to Birger Meling’s early opener. However, the Bhoys hit back as a brace from Odsonne Eduoard as well as an Olivier Ntcham strike secured an important victory for Rodgers’ side, thus giving them the upper hand ahead of the return leg in Norway next week.
Thus, there are many satisfied Celtic fans up and down the country, although they are unlikely to be overly thrilled by recent reports linking West Ham with a move for Ntcham this summer.
The 22-year-old made the move to Celtic Park back in 2017 after coming up through the ranks at Premier League champions Manchester City, and he enjoyed a fine debut season north of the border in netting nine goals in 47 appearances in all competitions.
And a fast start to this term in scoring on Wednesday night appears to have attracted the interest of Hammers chief Manuel Pellegrini, as the East London club have reportedly enquired about the Frenchman’s availability.
And were a possible deal to take place to take Ntcham to the London Stadium, Celtic must demand more than just money out of the deal, and as such should seek to demand one of these TWO West Ham stars in return…
Reece Oxford’s career simply hasn’t taken off just yet, what with the 19-year-old failing to break into West Ham’s first team on a regular basis, and indeed struggling in spells out on loan.
The versatile star, who can play at centre back and indeed in a defensive midfield role, made his senior Hammers debut at the age of 16 but has since then added just 16 further appearances for the East London club, while he hasn’t fared much better on loan at Reading and Borussia Monchengladbach, with only 13 appearances to show for those temporary stints.
Yet former Liverpool boss Rodgers has always been willing to give youth a chance and as such could be the ideal man to give Oxford the game time he needs to fulfil his undoubted potential, which is why they must demand the 19-year-old if West Ham intensify their interest in Ntcham.
It’s fair to say that things simply haven’t worked out for Jordan Hugill at West Ham following his £10 million move from Preston North End back in January.
The 26-year-old was brought in by David Moyes in a bid to bolster the flagging striking department at the London Stadium, yet the Englishman managed just 22 minutes of Premier League action in the second half of the season to suggest that his future may not be in East London.
Yet his goal-scoring record at Championship level in recent years, having netted at least ten goals in his last two seasons at Preston, suggests that Hugill could well be a hit north of the border, which is Rodgers should seek to land him as part of the possible Ntcham deal.
