An alternative version of Celtic’s alleged interest in Ryan Fraser has emerged tonight.
At lunchtime it was claimed in the Northern Echo that Celtic were preparing to make an offer to Newcastle for their out of favour winger.
Fraser’s ‘strained’ relationship with Eddie Howe has seen him out of action since last October with his Scotland place another casualty of a feud that dates back to Bournemouth’s relegation from the EPL in the middle of Lockdown.
Michael Gannon of the Daily Record has claimed that the initial interest was sparked by Newcastle who are keen to get the 29-year-old off the premises.
Celtic have been told they won’t need to stump up fortunes to snap up Newcastle winger Ryan Fraser.
The former Scotland ace has been offered to the Hoops and a host of clubs in England as Magpies gaffer Eddie Howe is keen to get out-of-favour 29-year-old off the books.
Celtic are considering making a move with Brendan Rodgers keen to bolster his attack. But Fraser’s bumper wage package on Tyneside could still prove to be a major stumbling block – with the flying machine understood to be pocketing more than £60k per week and almost two years remaining on his contact.
Newcastle would be willing to thrash out the remainder of his deal with any interested parties but it remains to be seen if Celtic will bite.
Signing as a free agent in September 2020 Fraser is likely to be on considerably more than £60,000, or on a big loyalty payment on each anniversary of signing for Newcastle.
In November 2019 TalkSPORT reported:
talkSPORT understands Liverpool are now at the front of the queue to sign the Scotland international when the transfer window reopens, with Bournemouth keen to cash in on the 25-year-old in the new year rather than lose him for nothing at the end of the season.
talkSPORT’s south coast correspondent Alex Crook broke the news of Liverpool’s interest in Fraser live on Drivetime, revealing: “My understanding is Jurgen Klopp is lining up a surprise move for Bournemouth’s Ryan Fraser.
“He is out of contract next summer and that means effectively Bournemouth will have to sell him in January.
“He has got more assists than any player in the Premier League since the start of last season. You have to caveat that and say he has not been in great form this season. He has been in and out of the Bournemouth team and when he has played he has not been as effective, as productive as in previous campaigns. You just wonder how much of that is down to the contract situation.
“My understanding is that relations between Fraser and Eddie Howe are perhaps not as strong as they once were, which is understandable when you have a player who wants away.
“You can understand why Bournemouth have tried to hold on to him but I think now a move in January would suit all parties.
“He would be a great signing for Liverpool. He is not going to get in that front three ahead of Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane, but what an option off the bench.
Attitude seems to be the recurring theme in discussion about Fraser with the suggestion that he ‘downed tools’ in his final season at Bournemouth.
That issue has dogged him through what should have been the prime years of his career after going to League One Bournemouth as a teenager from Aberdeen.
Brendan Rodgers has demonstrated many times that attitude and commitment mean everything to him, if there is interest from Celtic the Irishman must be confident that issues have been exaggerated and that the winger is simply requiring a fresh start.
✍️ #NUFC are thrilled to announce the signing of Ryan Fraser on a five-year deal!
Welcome, Ryan! 🏴👊
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) September 7, 2020
