McCourt in, McGeady Out at Celtic?

Irish Voice Sport

McCourt in, McGeady Out at Celtic?

June 26, 2008

Sports Digest by Cathal Dervan

CELTIC have signed Derry City wing ace Paddy McCourt, prompting renewed speculation that they will cash in on Ireland winger Aiden McGeady who is now wanted by Spurs as well as Sunderland and Newcastle United.

The Irish star, rated at over ?15 million, is more likely than ever now to leave Parkhead after the arrival of Derry City flyer McCourt.

Spurs boss Juande Ramos has joined Sunderland’s Roy Keane and Newcastle’s Kevin Keegan on the McGeady chase.

Ramos will rebuild his White Hart Lane squad this summer as he looks forward to his first full season in charge of Tottenham.

Irish captain Robbie Keane is one of only a handful of players who have been told their Spurs future is secure.

And McGeady is the winger Ramos wants to build a team capable of challenging the big four when the Premier League season kicks-off in August.

“Tottenham want McGeady and they have the financial clout to win this battle,” revealed a Spurs source.

“They can offer straight cash or a cash plus players deal. Either way they want to bring McGeady down to English football from Scotland.”

McCourt’s arrival in a record eircom League deal from Derry has heightened speculation that McGeady will be sold by Bhoys boss Gordon Strachan.

The Northern Ireland international completed the fine details of his shock move on Friday afternoon and will report back to Celtic for pre-season training early next month.

“I am still in dreamland but I am determined to make the most of this unexpected chance,” McCourt told Star Sunday.

“Standing on that pitch on Friday it was just incredible to think that I was standing there as a Celtic player. I’m still in dreamland to be honest with you.

“I’ve been there as a Celtic fan, I know that the club is more a way of life than a football team and I know what it means to so many people so to be sitting on the other side of the fence now is just awesome.

“To get an opportunity to play for a club like Celtic is just fantastic for me. It’s a few days now since I knew it was about to happen but there is still a huge buzz about the move, for me and my family and for everyone I’ve met since I got back to Derry.

“I know the challenge that’s ahead of me,” claimed McCourt. “My first target is to get a good pre-season under my belt. I’ve been out for seven weeks or so now with a back injury so I need to get my fitness levels up.

“Whatever comes my way I’ll be ready for it, no matter how hard the running is! Then I’ll be going all out to get into the Celtic team.”

Celtic will play two games at the Brandywell as part of the McCourt deal.

Birmingham have rejected a bid of £5.5 million, plus central defender Bobo Balde, for striker James McFadden from Celtic.

Poland midfielder Mariusz Lewandowski has revealed he would love to play for Celtic if they follow up their interest in the Shaktar Donetsk player.

Lewandowski told the Evening Times, “I’m on holiday just now, but there are people dealing with this situation who I trust. Celtic are a big club and play regularly in the Champions League, so it would be a good place to play my football.”

Celtic are also interested in Spartak Moscow’s Austria defender Martin Stranzl, according to the player’s agent.

Midfielder Thomas Gravesen could be set to stay at Parkhead and fight for selection in the final year of his contract when he returns from a loan spell at Everton.

Meanwhile, UEFA have confirmed that Rangers’ television and sponsorship income from their run to the UEFA Cup final only just exceeded Celtic’s earnings from reaching the last 16 of the Champions League.

Figures released by UEFA show Celtic benefited from their second successive qualification for the knock-out phase to the tune of £10.3million.

Rangers earned £7.7 million from their involvement in the Champions League group stages, though they also brought in £4.1 million from their run to the UEFA Cup final.

Given’s Pledge

IRELAND keeper Shay Given has pledged his future to Newcastle and played down talk of a move to Arsenal as he continues his rehabilitation from a serious groin injury.

“I have three years left on my contract and I am very settled in the north east,” Given told The Mirror. “I see myself staying at Newcastle for the rest of my career.

“I’ve been with Newcastle since 1997 and I’ll soon be getting a Geordie twang. It’s a great football club with fantastic fans, so I have no reason to leave.

“I’ve been keeping fit and training hard...and in a couple of weeks I’ll be able to join up with Newcastle again for the start of pre-season.”

Soccer Shorts

ROBERTO Donadoni’s future as Italian boss will be decided in the coming days with strong speculation that World Cup winner Marcello Lippi will be back in charge for the qualifiers against Ireland . . .

GALWAY United have transfer listed Dutch defender Regi Nootimer. Daryl Robson, Wes Charles, Ciaran Foley, Stephen O’Flynn, John Lester and Alvin Rouse are also on the list . . .

PAUL McShane is a serious doubt for Ireland’s World Cup qualifiers in September after the Sunderland defender fractured is knee cap in a freak fall while on holiday in Mexico . . .

IRISH winger Mark Yeates is on the move from Colchester to Crystal Palace – once he can pass a medical as he recovers from a shoulder injury . . .

SUNDELAND striker Roy O’Donovan is to resist a loan move to Dundee United and fight for his place at the Stadium of Light . . .

COVENTRY City have completed the signing of prospective Ireland goalkeeper Keiren Westwood from Carlisle United . . .

MIDDLESBROUGH and Sunderland have both been linked with Sheffield United’s Irish midfielder Stephen Quinn . . .

FORMER Irish international Gary Doherty is expected to sign a new contract at Norwich City.

Sports Shorts

RUGBY: The IRFU has confirmed that South African Gert Smal will become forwards coach under new Ireland boss Declan Kidney. Smal was assistant coach when South Africa won the World Cup last year and said: “Ireland has a strong squad of players and I look forward to working with them in the build up to the next World Cup.” . . .

RACING: The first three home in the Vodafone Derby remain on course to renew rivalry in the Dubai Duty Free-sponsored Irish equivalent at the Curragh this Sunday. New Approach triumphed over Tartan Bearer and Casual Conquest at Epsom and all three were declared for Sunday’s feature at the Curragh . . .

RUGBY: Munster have announced that Tony McGahan will succeed Declan Kidney as coach of the Heineken Cup champions as he moves up from number three in the Reds pecking order . . .

GOLF: Spain’s Juan Quiros produced a stunning approach shot on the final hole to pip Ireland’s Des Smyth by a single stroke to the Irish Seniors Open title at Ballyliffin last Sunday . . .

RACING: Royal Ascot winners Duke Of Marmalade and Macarthur are likely to represent Aiden O’Brien’s Ballydoyle in next month’s King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes . . .

RUGBY: Connacht have been drawn against London Irish in next season’s European Challenge Cup . . .

BOXING: Bernard Dunne will meet Argentina’s Damian Marchiano at the National Stadium on July 12 . . .

RUGBY: Ulster flanker Stephen Ferris has signed a new three year deal with the Northern province.

GAA Shorts

DERMOT Duggan is a doubt for Cork’s Munster final date with Kerry after picking up a badly bruised leg in a club game while wing back Paudie Kissane is definitely out with a broken arm while Noel O’Leary is out with a serious shoulder injury . . .

MARTIN Flanagan is still a serious doubt for Westmeath ahead of their big Leinster SFC clash with Dublin on Sunday as he struggles to recover from an ankle injury. David Duffy is on standby to replace Flanagan . . .

DOWN’S Martin Cole will miss Sunday’s Ulster semi-final against Armagh after he decided not to appeal against a four week ban. Oisin McConville is a doubt for Armagh with a back problem . . .

THIS year’s Ulster football final will revert back to Clones after two years at Croke Park. Fermanagh await the winners of the Down-Armagh semi-final in the decider on July 20 . . .

DUAL star Shane McCabe will be free to play for Fermanagh in the Ulster SFC final against Down or Armagh despite his involvement with Glentoran’s UEFA Cup campaign . . .

JOE Canning is unlikely to make his championship debut for Galway against Antrim on Saturday as he recovers from blood poisoning . . .

FORMER Cork and Dublin dual star Tim O’Mahoney, the brains behind the Toyota franchise in Ireland, has died after a short illness . . .

LAOIS hurling boss Damien Fox has quit ahead of the All-Ireland qualifiers in the wake of their recent heavy defeat to Offaly . . .

TYRONE’S Enda McGinley could be a doubt for the All-Ireland qualifiers on July 19 after falling ill at the weekend.

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