CELTIC HAVE RULED out making a January move for out-of-favour Everton winger Aiden McGeady, who made his name at the Scottish Premiership club.
The Republic of Ireland international, who started his professional career at Celtic before joining Spartak Moscow in 2010, signed for Everton from the Russian side in 2014 but has only made one League Cup appearance this season.
Manager Ronny Deila has previously said wage demands would prove to be a major stumbling block if his club tried to make a move and his assistant John Collins has now confirmed a transfer will not be possible.
“I would rule that out — yes,” said Collins when asked about the prospect of the Scottish champions attempting to bring back McGeady. “I don’t think it was realistic.
Aiden is a Premier League player on Premier League wages. We have always got to be realistic, we have budgets and there is a big gap between the Premier League and the Championship and our league.”
Speaking on Friday, Everton boss Roberto Martinez had confirmed he is open to allowing McGeady and his Ireland team-mate Darron Gibson to leave in January to boost their hopes of playing at Euro 2016.
He said: “We have had a lot of interest in Darron Gibson and Aiden McGeady and we need to sit down and consider what is the next step.
It has been disappointing for them not to have enough minutes on the pitch and they need to be playing until the end of the season due to the opportunity of playing for Ireland in the Euros.
“They deserve to have special attention at this stage of the season. They have not played enough and now is a good opportunity to see if the second half of the season can be a good one.”
Collins also confirmed Anthony Stokes will be allowed to leave Celtic on loan this month, while Romanian defender Andrei Peteleu, 23, and Norwegian midfielder Kristoffer Ajer, 17, have arrived for a trial period.
altogether now…….
TTTOOMMMMYYYYYY BBBOOOWWWWWWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
They had a phenomenal year? They lost the six nations to Tv3? He’s deluded
@Darragh Flynn:
Is that how you evaluate achievement? By who has the most money?
No and I’m a fan of a lot of sports, but losing rights of two of the biggest sports viewer pullers (RWC & 6N) to your national rival is certainly not an achievement. They’ll miss the viewer figures when they’re gone.
But hes obviously focusing on what coverage they have delivered on (thats what he was saying was excellent), not what they were outbidded on? Im not saying they WERE excellent but thought you were aimimg at the wrong point
Ireland beating the All Blacks was the sporting highlight of the year for me …. watched on an iPad then free on Eir then had to watch a montage the next week on RTE before the Canada game including fake commentary on the historic match they didn’t show …. load of shite
RTÉ’s soccer and GAA coverage is beyond sh!te. Same tired old muppets churning out the same crap year after year. I’d rather pay to watch decent coverage.
Ahhh…God love poor Ryle, he gets upset at a little criticism. Have to agree to with @Niall, the RTE soccer pundits plus the GAA football pundits are long overdue a shake up. The hurling pundits are the best of a bad lot. As for George Hook and his rugger buggers……???
@Niall McNamara:
pay to watch jaime redknapp or micheal owen? Every station has poor pundits(or ones you disagree with) but you’re doing a blanket statement which is idiotic. Hamann is probably the best pundit out there and where is he…..RTE
George retired – Shane Horgan, ROG and Brent Pope are all excellent
When it comes to GAA and Rugbaí. TG4 are streets ahead. If I heard Hugh Cahill commentating, I’d break my own rule and watch it on a Brit channel.
We should just give the award to everybody who played sport this year! Why narrow it down to one?
@Conor Paddingto:
Well that has to be the dumbest thing I have ever read.
@Just Some Guy: sarcasm frequently appears that way to the uninitiated. 8 nominees, no one there unjustly and an endless moan about who isn’t on the list. Silliness.
Up yours Ryle
He is the worst commentator of the whole lot including sky sports!!! How he has kept the job is amazing given the amount of people that have the same opinion….oh wait he gives himself the job as head of sport. What’s his KPI’s
Congrats to all nominated and all but only 2 people who should win this are Frampton or McGregor. Won world titles. Don’t think frampton has the support in Ireland to win a vote so McGregor it is. Will he turn up. Surprised McIlroy wasn’t nominated had a pretty good year but he did win it the other year so maybe they thought if nominated he would win it again. Though boycott of Olympics would have hit his popularity in public votes
So what was the criteria then?
Agree he’s deluded and interesting to see the wide spectrum of fans who think the same. They give no support to any LOI teams in Europe – Eir Sport stepped in and gave excellent coverage to Dundalk European adventure and id love them to get hold of the LOI and stick it on free to air
The only thing good about RTE’s lack of rugby coverage is that we don’t have to listen Ryle’s poor commentary too often. Usually turn sound down and listen to Michael Corcoran.
Sully