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Celtic may jump on The Boat

Middlesbrough midfielder George Boateng wants to talk to Celtic and Rangers about a possible move to Glasgow, according to reports in today's press.

The 32-year-old Netherlands international previously played under Celtic boss Gordon Strachan at Coventry City and has claimed he wanted to talk to both clubs in January but was refused permission.

Boateng told the Scottish Sun: "I wanted to talk to these clubs but Southgate didn't allow it. I am very unhappy about this. The situation is difficult but my time at Middlesbrough is at an end. I am told both Glasgow clubs will come back for me this summer."

Boateng moved to Middlesbrough from Aston Villa for £5million in 2002. However, his spell at the Riverside appeared to be drawing to an end when Gareth Southgate stripped him of the captaincy in January so he could "concentrate on his game".

However, further speculation suggests former England boss Steve McClaren will try to convince Boateng to move to Twente if, as expected, he becomes their new boss in the next few days.

***update***update***update***update***

Boateng now appears to have distanced himself from the link, being quoted by Sky Sports as saying: "I've never spoken to anyone in Scotland. I have never spoken to anyone about Celtic and Rangers. I don't know where they (the quotes) have come from."

***

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Something vital to say about football on the Box?

Writer: Jamie@Vital Celtic

Date:Friday May 30 2008

Time: 12:23PM

Your Comments

This is shocking!

R.K

He turns 33 in September, too. It'll not happen, he's just desperate to get out. He'll be back to Holland.

Jamie1967

hes not that bad a player, i'd take him as a last resort

hoopymo

Forget about Boateng we still have to offload Gravesen. Celtic should be setting there sights a bit higher than this. We must be aiming for the last eight of the CL and the likes of Boateng is'nt going to get us there.

Meatbeat

was not a bad player when he was 25 is this the type of player we are going for now we are suppose it be one of the biggest clubs in the world and this the level that we are sinking too let rangers have him.

celtic4life

i was hoping for bullard or nolan,not boateng,my granda's younger

belfast1981

A joke, things better start improving soon, we've money in the bank, we better start spending it, and not on this dross or kewell for that matter, had a bad feeling this sort of thing would happen, strachan is fecking shocking in the transfer market. Know it's not done yet but the players we're linked with McEveley, Kewell and now boateng are *****e and won't get us to four in a row

STEINO!!!

in my opion a back bone off the side richard dunne,jimmy bullard,andy johnson would push us on and really improve our team and squad.the holy goalies fee would cover over half the money needed

belfast1981

Take Richard Dunne in a second m8, and the other two u mention are exactley the type we need, fighters, in the robson mode. Would be a tragedy if we pass up the chance of years of domination against the huns by not greatly improving the squad.

STEINO!!!

Boateng can forget it. No way is he capable of 1st team football at parkhead, CL ?! Everyone one should stop panicing cause it's worth saving our money till after Euro 2008. Talented players will be aplenty to choose from.

LARSSON*7*CFC

good news sunderland want to buy maloney the sooner the better

celtic4life

typo's - apologies.

LARSSON*7*CFC

The only problem with waiting until after Euro 2008 is the increased competition for players and the obvious price hikes that good performances will bring, hopefully we've a few aces up our sleeves.

STEINO!!!

Yeah, Maloney to Sunderland for £4million, can't wait! Another interesting choice by Keane if true. And you're right about Euro 2008 - the prices go up and any "hidden gems" will be instantly uncovered for all to see.

Jamie1967

at greatly inflated prices no doubt ,, anyway ,, pistol Pete say,s he has ,, along with WGS identified our weaknesses and will act accordingly ,, thats Bobo away then ,, ha ,, ha ......

wishaw bhoy

Yeah so it's a dangerous game to be playing, we could end up being outpriced for everyone, perhaps we're looking at other markets from countries outwith the Euro's. Desperately need a left back, that Michael Kadlec of the Czech Rep (who we've previously been linked with) looks a player but saying that Libor Sionko looked good too! We need to strengthen with real quality in 4 positions, LB,CB, DEFENSIVE MID and STRIKER, Lawell, Strach and the board must have noticed this at least 6 months ago, there had better be plans afoot ....

STEINO!!!

Actually, if you guys want Johnson and Bullard then Euro 2008 will help, as their value would be driven down, with England not being there. I don't think we need a central midfielder, as Brown, Hartley, Robson, Sno, and Donati seem solid enough to me. I think now that Brown is at peace with the incidents with his sister he will be a better player with the ordeal being over. I think centre back, left back (maybe, as I think Wilson looks good there), a winger, and a striker.

irishbhoy

Na m8, sorry to disagree but a LB is a must, Wilson's dire, Naylor's even worse. Out of the five midfielders mentioned only two are any good(Brown and Robson), Hartley shouldn't be on a football park never mind at Celtic, Sno is grim and Donati ain't got any guts. We need someone to control the midfield and dictate the tempo of the game and can drive the team, out wide i think we're covered with Naka, McGeady and Mizuno(who looks very talented), Robson could do a job on the left too. Up front we've only really got Skippy and JVOH(who's dire) as the established strikers. Personally i'd take a punt on Samaras who with a sustained run in the side i think would come good, so for me i still think we need another striker.

STEINO!!!

We'll agree to disagree mate. Hartley has been brilliant for us this season IMO. Sno is a player that is frustrating. I think he looks brilliant when he is one his game, but he is one that if he is playing poorly is pure *****e. Donati is a confidence player. At the start of the season he was brilliant, but once he got dropped for a couple of games his performances severely dropped. The guy clearly loves the club and his celebrations at the title win show a guy that will give his all for the cause

irishbhoy

As for Wilson, everyone seems to forget his first 6 months, when he was brilliant for us. That was at left back, but since then he has been constantly injured. In my view, we should sell Naylor, but to me Hinkel, Caddis, Doumbe, and Wilson would be 4 quality full backs. I was upset when Doumbe got brilliant as he was finally getting a run in the team and he looked excellent. Up front, McDonald and JVoH are the starters. Jan is lazy at time, but he gets crucial goals. Samaras is worth it because he gives us something different. He is our most mobile striker, and he oftens shows Nakamura like passing and dribbling ability. His best partner is Jan, but we do need a fourth striker, though apparently Hutchinson has been brilliant in the reserves.

irishbhoy

That should have said when Doumbe got injured.

irishbhoy

Nae bother, but for me our left backs should be left footed if they are to overlap and get early balls in the box, it's a crucial area of the park(they all are i kno), so there has to be quality brought in, if we're gonna spend serious cash it really needs to be spent on the defence, think you're right about Hutchinson looking good, i've watched him on Celtic tv and for a big guy he looks to have a bit of pace and technique about him.

STEINO!!!

its pish nae worries, wee strach and lawell will be looking at some REAL signing history to get the fans back on board and to make sure we can create a big gap between us and the govan rats

1888scott

Aye let's crush 'em into the dirt where they belong, now is the time!!!

STEINO!!!

Steino, how many teams actually have decent left-backs who are actually left footed? United paid near 15 million total for Heinze and Evra. Birmingham paid 2 million for Murphy after half of a spectacular season. Left-footed left-backs are hard to come by, but if someone can play really well there, I say play them there. Doumbe and Wilson both seem capable of it. And lets be honest, Wilson's left footed crosses are better than Naylor's are, which is rather sad.

irishbhoy

i seen caddis play on left and he looks very good its time to play him week in week out

celtic4life

when has caddis played left back

hoopymo

Has Caddis played left-back for the first team? I can't remember that

irishbhoy

celtic4life LIED!!! it was wilson that played left back. and hinkel was switched there once for about 10 mins at the end of a game because lee naylor went off injured and we had no left backs on the subs bench but we had caddis so change caddis for lee and switch hinkels side and bam! there we go

hoopymo

I think it is more likely that he was mistaken that lied

irishbhoy

he played for the under 21 team hoopymo i go to see them now and again

celtic4life

easy on the girly accusations :) A LB of high quality is required mainly for europe & to benefit mcgeady more as teams double team him. Boateng is not good enough & his signing would be a waste of time when we have hartley/brown/robson.

LARSSON*7*CFC

I think it is more likely that he was mistaken that lied irishbhoy- i know, just seemed more dramatic >:3

hoopymo

Maybe Gordon could re-sign Dion Dublin while he's at it.

UP-4-DA-BAH