There are few clubs that operate the player trading model as well as Celtic, raising around £100million in the past five years. Ange Postecoglou has so far not had to sell one of his stars ... until now. As Record Sport revealed on Wednesday night, Giorgos Giakoumakis could leave in January after a contract stand-off.
There's a tangible sense among supporters of an unfinished story if Giakoumakis' Celtic career ends after only 18 months. The 27-year-old overcame his injury blues and in the eyes of many he is club's best option up top with his uncompromising style a contrast to Kyogo's technical style which is all about darting runs in behind.
Giakoumakis' goal rate per minutes is among the best over the past 20 years and his uncanny knack of one touch finishes proved vital en route to Premiership title glory. But Postecoglou warned punters to prime themselves for star names to depart during the coming windows. And his key message from the club's recent AGM appears ready to come to pass. But will he be sorely missed? We argue the pros and cons of the Greek international striker.
Yes, he will be a big loss (Craig Swan)
Giakoumakis is an outstanding finisher and keeping him can only enhance Celtic’s chances of winning more silverware. The Greek striker took a while to get going at Parkhead with his injury issues causing a problem throughout his opening spell at the club.
But since returning at the start of this year, his numbers have been incredible. The starts to goals ratio is fabulous. In the second-half of last season, having notched just once against St Johnstone prior to the New Year, he scored 16 goals having started just 13 of the games.
Such a return is phenomenal, but the timing was also crucial given that Kyogo Furuhashi had swapped places with him in the treatment room. The Japanese striker had a lengthy absence of his own as the campaign built towards the run-in and it was the Greek who spearheaded the attack as the deficit to Rangers was overhauled and Ange Postecoglou’s team took the title.
Giakoumakis dependable in the sense that, when he is on the park, there is every chance he is going to score a goal. It’s been a similar scenario this term. Eight goals in 21 outings are not statistics which immediately blow you away, but the fact is he’s only started seven games.
Crucially, his presence has allowed Kyogo to get breaks and rests which have allowed to keep scoring at a terrific rate. Giakoumakis and Kyogo are both top-class finishers, but there are obvious differences in their play and styles.
The Greek has a physical presence which means he can bully defenders. In certain circumstances when space is tight against packed backlines, that’s a quality which has served him well. Giakoumakis has shown that he can fit into the team’s fast attacking style and combine with others both in midfield and up front.
Interestingly, Giakoumakis has started just two games against Rangers since he was signed by Postecoglou. Both were in the second half of last season and the champions won them both. When he didn’t start the Scottish Cup semi-final and the final league encounter, Celtic didn’t win either.
When Rangers went to Parkhead at the beginning of last season, Giakoumakis went onto the pitch after just five minutes due to Kyogo’s shoulder problem. Celtic subsequently won that one as well. In the Champions League group stages when goals were hard to come by for Celtic and they missed opportunities, he was on target against Shakhtar Donetsk.
Now, of course, there are always factors in football which mean it is about more than just what happens on the pitch. If there are issues which can’t be overcome, then, obviously, something has to give. You also have to factor into the equation that, having been the one who identified him and signed him, there is every chance Postecoglou would get something even better in the door. You can’t doubt the manager’s ability in the market.
But right now, if you are talking purely about the football and with that new striker not yet on the books, losing Giakoumakis has to make Celtic less potent. The numbers tell you that.
No, he won’t be a big loss (Michael Gannon)
If it’s raw numbers that float your boat then Giakoumakis’ numbers make some reading. The frontman has notched 25 goals in just 43 appearances – and only 23 starts.
That’s pretty decent no matter what way you squint and on the face or it, maybe it’s understandable folk would wonder why any team would want to allow those kinds of stats to walk out the door. But there’s a reason most folk are not managing Celtic. It’s Ange Postecoglou’s job and he’s surely earned the trust of his board and his supporters by now to let him get on with it.
The manager will be at the heart of any major decision at Parkhead these days. If he feels a player is worth a hefty hike in wages then it’ll more than likely get rubber stamped.
If he reckons he can get better value for money elsewhere, then it might be time to pack the cases. Postecoglou isn’t working in the shadows here. He told supporters at the AGM to brace themselves for some aggressive work in the transfer market.
He also warned not to get too attached to their heroes as they could be here today, gone tomorrow. Giakoumakis might fit into that category. The big striker has done the business for Celts any time he’s been on the pitch.
When Kyogo was out injured last season, he stepped up and drove the Hoops over the line. The 27-year-old gives Celtic a physical presence up top and while his touch outside the box isn’t exactly subtle, if he had that part of his game as well he would be at Old Trafford rather than Tollcross.
There’s no doubt he can finish though and you can understand why he might want a few quid more. But you can also understand if Postecoglou reckons he’s got someone else lined up that can do as good a job – or even better.
That’s the manager’s plans now. Phase one was building his team and winning trophies. Phase two is about driving up the standards and that means cashing in on assets and recruiting even better ones.
He admitted to us hacks after the AGM it was about going from boring £2m players and selling for £8m, to bringing in £5m players then can go for £15m and then £10m that makes £30m. It’s not always that simple but his track record in the transfer market suggests Postecoglou has a better chance of making it work than most.
Last summer he needed someone to guarantee him goals in Scotland. Giakoumakis did that for him. But now his thoughts are about players who can produce the goods in Europe. Now, Giakoumakis could be that guy as well, but he’s not there yet, and at 27-year-old, he’s not going to make the club fortunes if he sticks around until the end of his current deal.
If a decent bid lands in January and the frontman can make a few bob for his family, then it’s likely to be handshakes all round. Giakoumakis will always have a place in the hearts of Celtic fans but the manager has shown there’s no love lost in the football business.
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