What’s happening with James McCarthy at Celtic?

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The Celtic Star

·23 de mayo de 2024

What’s happening with James McCarthy at Celtic?

The James McCarthy signing had all the hallmarks of a Dermot Desmond/Peter Lawwell deal. So did our biggest shareholder pay up to end it this summer?

Celtic v Blackburn Rovers – Pre Season Friendly – Celtic Park James McCarthy, Scott Bain and Mikey Johnston arriving at Celtic Park, : Saturday July 16, 2022. Photo Andrew Milligan

One notable absentee from the recent Celtic player of the year awards was James McCarthy. Remember him? The Irish international who was signed under Ange Postecoglou in the summer of 2021 on a four year deal, so still has a year to run on that hugely expensive contract.

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James to date has played 27 games for the club and spends most of his days training with the Celtic B side. He has not come close to a match day squad under Brendan Rodgers and an attempt by a Greek side to sign him on loan collapsed due to the percentage of his wage packet that they were prepared to pay.

One wit on Celtic twitter reckoned that it was the best anyway as he reckoned that of McCarthy went to Greece he’d melt!

James McCarthy. Photo Jane Barlow

Although it’s debatable if Ange had any say on the signing of the former Hamilton midfielder as it felt like very much a Dermot Desmond/ Peter Lawwell signing. An Irish midfielder with EPL experience who also happened to be a big Celtic supporter, it ticks all the boxes of a Desmond signing in my opinion.

It’s one thing signing a player of James’s reputation, and by that I mean his injury history, which is horrific, but to give him a four year deal? Whoever sanctioned that was taking a reckless risk that never looked like paying off.

I’m not having a go at James as it’s certainly not his fault and he has clearly been a popular squad member at Lennoxtown when he was training with the first team. After all who in their right mind is going to turn down a final big pay day, especially at the club they have supported all their life?

Celtic v AZ Alkmaar – James McCarthy at the end of the match at Celtic Park. Photo Andrew Milligan

James would have been on big salary having come from the EPL. You’ve got to be talking a salary in the region of 20 grand a week at least. That over the three years he has been here adds up to a huge amount. A huge amount that’s basically wasted money.

Surely it’s in everyone’s best interests if a deal was struck to let James go? It would free up some much needed cash from the wage bill and pave the way for a player who would actually contribute to the team.