West Ham United transfer news: Update emerges on Celtic ace Cameron Carter-Vickers
Graeme McGarry has issued an exit admission on Celtic defender Cameron Carter-Vickers amid West Ham, Brentford and Nottingham Forest links.
Writing in the Glasgow Times on 17 January, he claims that while he’s going to leave Celtic Park sooner or later, there is no indication that the United States international wants an imminent exit.
SBI Soccer reported on 16 January that Brentford, Nottingham and the Hammers have been impressed with his two seasons in Scotland.
McGarry wrote: “The man that former Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou called ‘the best defender in Scotland’ has been outstanding since his arrival in Glasgow, and perhaps the only surprise is that it isn’t his former boss who has been linked with an interest in taking him back to his old stomping ground in North London.
“He will go, of course, sooner or later. The Celtic board didn’t sanction the £6m transfer fee to land him permanently a couple of summers ago, after his successful loan stint, solely because of the value he would bring to the team in the short term. His longer-term sell-on value was just as likely to have been a driver behind that decision.”
Probably not ready?
The Scottish Premiership and the Premier League differ significantly in terms of competitiveness, financial resources and overall quality.
While Carter-Vickers has excelled in Scotland with Celtic, the English top flight presents a higher level of competition, featuring top-tier teams with greater depth and talent.
West Ham, being a side competing for European places every season, should carefully assess whether Carter-Vickers’ success in Scotland translates seamlessly to the demands of the English top flight.
Considering the robust nature of the league, they may need a defender with proven experience in the league or a comparable competitive environment.
Exploring other options, such as players with Premier League experience or those who have demonstrated success in similar high-intensity leagues, could be a more prudent strategy for the Hammers.
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