Winger Luis Palma‘s Celtic career is NOT over despite his lacklustre display against Falkirk.
That is the view of Marvin Bartley – but he did concede that Brendan Rodgers will be “nervous” to throw in the Honduran again should he ring the changes again on the same scale as he did in the Premier Sports Cup clash. The 24-year-old was given his first start of the season against the Bairns but failed to impress and was replaced after 60 minutes – with his social media antics after the game earning criticism from supporters.
Celtic knocked back offers late in the summer transfer window for Palma – but speculation is ramping up that the wide man could now be moved on in January. However, Bartley feels that there is still a chance the forward can make the grade with the Scottish Premiership champions.
He told Clyde 1 Superscoreboard: “I think to say someone is done is extremely harsh. It is not very easy to come in and try to impact a game. One thing I would say, I think when you play for Celtic Football Club and you play Falkirk – regardless of how well they are doing – they are a Championship team. So when you do come into that team, you have to be better than Falkirk.
“I just felt that some of the players that came in struggled too much. You are in a situation now that you would be nervous putting three of four of them in, because their standards have to be higher outside of a few. But, no, you can’t say somebody is done off the back of that.”
Should Celtic opt to cash-in on Palma, a replacement has been pitched in the form of versatile Brondby forward Mathias Kvistgaarden. The 22-year-old has been on the Parkhead agenda in recent windows – and can play on the left flank or lead the frontline.
Former Denmark international Per Frimann told Viaplay that he thinks a the £11m fee that took Arne Engels to Parkhead may have to be splashed once again. He said: “I think he will be sold this winter. There have been rumours that Brondby has been offered 80 million (Danish Krone, £8.9m), but I can really understand that they have turned it down.
“With what he is showing now, he is resorting to a higher transfer price – not least if it involves Champions League clubs. Brondby must get 100 million (Danish Krone, £11m) or something like that.
“Brondby must be able to complete huge transfers. So they must go after the 100 million.”