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Celtic FC
Posted by Andy Muirhead on 08/10/2011

With the closure of the transfer window fast approaching, Celtic are still on the lookout for a goalkeeper. Their main target Jagiellonia Bialystok's keeper Grzegorz Sandomierski is keen on a switch to Parkhead but the clubs are yet to agree a fee.

Meanwhile, as I reported on my own website, Islam Feruz has left Celtic for Chelsea. And Celtic bid adieu for now to Josh Thompson and Darren O'Dea as they head out on loan - but is their time at Celtic Park at an end?

Celtic target Grzegorz Sandomierski is reportedly determined to make the switch to the Bhoys, following in the footsteps of fellow Polish keeper Artur Boruc. The Parkhead side have had two bids for the Jagiellonia Bialystok shot-stopper rejected, with the Polish outfit holding out for £2 million.

The 21-year-old keeper said: "Artur is a legend at this club and I couldn't even dream of coming close to matching his status there. I can't be compared to him and I wouldn't want to be because everyone wants to make their own mark.

"But I hope everything will be sorted out soon. I am still getting conflicting information about this transfer. What I know is that the first offer from Scotland was rejected by Jagiellonia last week and I don't know if they will accept another offer. I have to admit that I don't know my future - it's getting a bit ridiculous. I get linked with clubs all the time but I never seem to move."

Meanwhile as I reported in Scotzine.com, Celtic have lost one of their top youngsters to English Premier League giants Chelsea, with the departure of Islam Feruz from Parkhead.

According to our own sources close to Celtic's youth setup Feruz will make the move to Stamford Bridge, with a reported £2,500 per week in wages on offer.

Chelsea can take advantage of a legal loophole, which means that the English outfit can snap up Feruz for a fee of around £300,000 as compensation.

Feruz could have signed professional terms with the Parkhead side on his 16th birthday in September, but Chelsea have swooped for one of Scotland's up and coming youngsters.

Under English FA rules, Feruz cannot sign professional terms until he is 17 years old, and will move south remaining on youth terms for one more year.

When contacted a Chelsea spokesperson said: “Until an official press release is made by Chelsea FC, we cannot make any comments regarding signing speculations.”

Despite a claim from one BBC Radio Scotland journalist that there was no talks between Celtic and Chelsea, Feruz WILL make the move.

Joe O'Rourke of the Celtic Supporters Association mentioned on the CSA website yesterday afternoon:

"Islam was invited to discuss pro-terms with Peter Lawwell and manager Neil Lennon. He turned up for the meeting with his agent and his parents. It seems that this young man’s head has been turned by the lure of more money in the English Premiership; that is his choice; Celtic will be due some compensation for their loss."

He added: "Time will tell how good the young man turns out to be; he could be another Aiden Mc Geady or Kenny Dalglish; but as I have said before; if they are not for you; they are against you; so better if they are not here; maybe young Islam should have spoken to John Kennedy if he needed lessons in how to conduct himself."

The loss of Feruz is a blow to Celtic, who had helped the player and his family stay in Glasgow after fleeing war-torn Somalia in 2001. With the late Tommy Burns helping them to stay in the country.

The youngster made his first ever senior appearance for Celtic in the Tommy Burns' memorial game in 2009.

Meanwhile Josh Thompson and Darren O'Dea have left Celtic Park on loan to Peterborough United and Leeds United respectively. It now looks like both players have no future at Celtic Park, with O'Dea saying as much also.


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Comments
Posted by weemarrty on 08/10/2011

Feruz; young man with £ signs in front of is eyes. For all the late great Tommy Burns and Celtic have done for the family I hope he falls flat on his face

Posted by Yworry on 08/10/2011

@ Weemarrty...u don't need 2 wish d guy badluck....aftall wudn't it be a gr8 achievement 4 d club 2 see dr Crop grow sweetable fruit....aftall dey will collect money 4 dr investment....pls wish d guy well

Posted by DAVIE STU on 08/10/2011

LIKE WAITING FOR A DELICOUS MEAL THAT DOESN,T COME ,NO BETTER THAN LIAM MILLER .HE COULD HAVE GAVE THE CLUB A FEW YEARS WITH PLENTY MORE LEFT FOR THE SECUTITY OF WEALTH AND FAME {WHAT A BIG THANKYOU TO TOMMY BURNS ,WEATHER IT BE THE KID OR HIS MUM } LIKE THE LAD SAYS BEFORE ,I WILL NOT BE WISHING HIM WELL {IF YOUR NOT FOR US YOUR AGAINST US .WE TRAINED HIM FOR SOMEONELSES FIGHT .WISH YOU NO HARM SON ,NEITHER WILL I BE WILLING YOU ON TO BETTER THINGS .YOU REAP WHAT YOU SEEW .NO DOUBT KARMA WILL VISIT YOU EARL .

Posted by Fr Hugh Purcell on 08/10/2011

It is incredible the lack of gratitude the Feruz family has shown; unbelievable. They would not be in this country if it was not for Tommy Burns RIP.
I think it also says something og the ethical standards of Chelsea, who must have known the story of the Feruz family. Any decent club would have left him at Celtic park for a couple of seasons.
Mercenary tactics by Chelsea are disgraceful.

Posted by BelfastBlue on 08/10/2011

You can hardly blame the youngster for wanting to better himself at a higher level rather than staying at a second rate club in an amatuer league. Scunthorpe would even be a step up.

Posted by HoopsBhoy on 08/10/2011

BelfastBlue- how would Scunthorpe be a step up? Celtic arein Europe, Scunthorpe are nae. Celtic have the best support in the world. Scunthorpe have a stadium seating no more than 30,000. Celtic have won theEuropean Cup, Scunthorpe won't ever. Celtic have players being linked with the likes of Man U, Arsenal,Liverpool....etc. Celtic bought Hooper from Scunthorpe...... And he's much better in the SPL! Celtic legends have played for Barca(Henrik Larsson) and Man U and all over Europe. Second rate club in an Amateur League? Aye, don't talk about your own team like that mate!!!! -HoopsBhoy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hail Hail!! Enjoy hearing about us in Europe on the tele!!!!

Posted by BelfastBlue on 08/10/2011

lol @ HoopsBhoy. I certainly will enjoy watching celtic's euro run on channel 5 this year. Being a season ticket holder at Stamford Bridge for the last 5 years Scunthorpe's plight and lack of success is hardly any concern of mine, I simply wanted to make a comparison to the standard of football being played. Even if Feruz doesn't make it into Chelsea's first team, at least he had a chance to play in a far better league than the SPL, the english reserves league ;)

Posted by robbie on 08/10/2011

Surprised that you found time to comment belfast, shouldn't you be our looting or smashing up manchester again?

Posted by BelfastBlue on 08/10/2011

Being from Belfast I would hardly say Manchester is local to me. Sorry.

Posted by BBhoy on 08/10/2011

give yourself peace Blue, I support a team with history and soul. Enjoy your teams checkered past, and current team all playing for money not for the shirt. Oh and all that success your tasting must be great, money well spent ;). Yeah great gloat about your overinflated league that amongst a few others is destroying football, step back and look at the bigger picture... but back to topic, yeah I think it's a disgrace if Feruz turns his back after all that's been done for him, and as much as you might knock Celtic they are investing a lot in these kids and bringing them through, and absolutely expect them to do as well as they can and progress to better leagues, but a few years in Celtic first is part of that process, enough players have taken the step too quickly and fell flat on their face, so it's not all selfish reasons it helps them develop. Shame on Chelsea, poaching a young player for a pittance when money is of little concern to them...I've no time for the lad if it's true.

Posted by BelfastBlue on 08/10/2011

Im with you now Robbie, you're refering to the Rangers fans after the Euro cup defeat? I do hate to disappoint but im not a Rangers fan, they're a better team than Celtic but still piss poor.

Posted by Tom McArdle on 08/10/2011

BelfastBlue certainly comes across as a bitter twisted sort, sad really that he takes the effort to crawl out from under a rock and spit negative bile like this, but then its not out of character is it ?

Posted by BelfastBlue on 08/10/2011

I'm flattered Tom. If my spitting of negative bile is offending you then just ignore me. Simple. I was merely voicing my opinion.

Posted by Big Mike on 08/10/2011

Kind of funny anyone calling themselves Belfast whatever I would expect them to hail from Belfast and if so what a damn cheek decrying the Scottish league! Norn Iron, Aye a great league there! Shee!

Posted by BelfastBlue on 08/10/2011

You're a sharp one Big Mike. Being from Belfast i can say the Irish league is like watching kids playing football in the park but I never claimed it was anything else nor do i have any expectations of any of the teams in it.

Posted by david deans on 08/10/2011

Islam Feruz will not get a game for Chelsea for years if at all. We will probably never hear off him again. Young players at clubs like Chelsae and Man city will never make it. They want instant success which means throwing money at the team. Before Chelsea got there millionare owner, what did they ever achieve, very little.Everybody knows if it was a level playing field from a financial point, Celtic would be easily way in front of Chelsea.

Posted by Jimmy fae Glesga on 08/10/2011

Funny how so many of these so called Chelsea fans support their teams fae their armchairs. Bald, office worker, timid, English milksop... just about sums him up.

Posted by BelfastBlue on 08/10/2011

Armchair? Try season ticket holder my illiterate irn bru drinking friend.

Posted by dublindave on 08/10/2011

Strange sort Mr Blue, have you jumped on the Russian bandwagon or more likely jumped ship when you heard that Mr Murray was paying his players wages thru' the channel islands. See the sheriff officers finally caught up today with more juicy visits to follow follow!!

Posted by BelfastBlue on 08/10/2011

As I said on a previous post, Rangers, even though they are the biggest team in Glasgow,is not my thing so it must have been the russian bandwagon dublindave.

Posted by Andy Lamont on 08/10/2011

@BelfastBlue

The biggest club in Glasgow??? Second biggest football stadium in Scotland - Parkhead is the biggest.

When did Rangers win the European Cup? Oh wait. When did Rangers reach the last 16 of the Champions League twice? Oh wait. Who secured nine titles in a row first?

Oh and the best bit - Rangers bought for a quid. And a sky-high tax bill hanging over their head.

Posted by dublindave on 08/10/2011

As the bold blue is sticking by the chelsea shout, I would just like to thank his bed hopping skipper for that quality spot-kick in moscow. Thought I would end up like northern rock or the gers as my large investment on man u to lift the european cup came up. Just for the record can't think of many teams in blue from around here that's won the big prize.

Posted by Just can't get enough on 08/11/2011

It's funny how that guy is just a glory hunter supporting Chelsea when he's from belfast oh in fact maybe he's not because I keep an eye on English football and man utd will destroy that league this season and have Chelsea actually won the European cup???

Posted by BelfastBlue on 08/11/2011

Just cant get enough, I'm from Belfast but live about 500 yrds from The Bridge, you dont even make sense. Dublindave, don't you be gambling away you job seekers allowance now Dave, you'll struggle to feed your 15 kids.

Posted by joebhoy on 08/11/2011

belfast blue-chelsea have failed m8,their ageing team will do well to get out the group stage-by then sir fwious will be coming round to lap your mob lol-all that money wasted trying to win the big cup-you know the one that sits in OUR trophyroom,financial fairplay rules next year will mean your club can only spend a % of their turnover-so if youve had all these years with roman throwing money about trying to win it,and failed,chelsea will be back beside scunthorpe where they belong,time to jump ship (again)

Posted by dublindave on 08/11/2011

all quiet on the belfast blue front. joebhoy is spot on with your so-called teams financial constraints shortly. roman may need to move on to your first love in govan however he'll have to sell the big yacht just to keep the tax man happy. Got to go, the mash and cabbage is on for all the kids.

Posted by Mick fae airdrie on 08/16/2011

Celtic are going to rip the spl,with the man lennon leading us to victory ;) theres only one neil lennon come on the hoops

Posted by toadybhoy on 08/17/2011

belfastblue your a loudmouth and a showoff characteristics that also describe your over-rated and under-performing team. your also an ignorant idiot well suited to chelsea

Posted by Godwin johnson on 09/13/2011

chelsea is a good club to speak for in england. as for feruz decision to move to chelsea, was a good. is not all about where u are rather is about tomorrow, desire and the future. reason wisely and pause complain......

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