05 Jul 2013 16:19:21
Gary Hooper dropped his biggest hint yet that he will be at Celtic next season saying that he wants to beat his goal scoring talley from last season and wants to continue playing champions league with Celtic. But i'd rather sell him now and get a transfer fee rather than lose him next year for nothing, well unless he sings a new deal obviously. DundeeMichael
Hopefully he will resign but if not as long as he knocks goals in champions league if he doesn't resign and celtics get 17mill from qualifying again then what's 5 mil free transfer loss between friends. He's been a good servant who is unlikely to get anywhere near England squad or a big EPL we will develop our own like Tony Watt and others in development squad and move forward
I seem to be in the minority who wants him to stay one more season and helps get us to the CL. His goals could land is a huge windfall which would more than cover the few million we could get from selling him. Plus if I was Lenny I would be in his ear telling him if he does the business a decent club might take him on a free and give him top wages. A win-win for all concerned IMO
Kevbhoy
05 Jul 2013 17:52:26
A could see him signing a new contract now. Apparently there is a decent amount off wages on the table for him.
Jordi Bhoy.
I think most people would like him to stay, but are getting fed up with the way its dragging on that's the problem,,,, deep river bhoy
I totally agree I want him to stay too. Hence my post above
I hope he stays, always have done! No gamble with him, will always score goals and possibly help to get to group stages of CL. He could help bring in another 15mil then go for free which I would take as realistically anybody else coming in (given the amount of money were unwilling to spend) is a gamble!
On the downside its Hoopers first interview since coming back from pre-season, he's wearing the hoops, he's got to make it sound good hasn't he.I would use some of the Wanyama money to pay Hooper extra wages but I still expect him to be on his way :(
Bigbadjohn
And he didn't say he wanted to play CL football with Celtic he just "I want to play CL football again" a well rehearsed statement.
Bigbadjohn
Just seen that on Celtic fc website. Hope he signs a contract extension. Covers all the bases for everyone, and into the bargin he's the best goal scorer we've had at the club for years. Ian L
05 Jul 2013 18:55:56
is it jist me your is it mibee the fact thit he kin sine a pre contract wae emdy it xmas?
n poakit the 5 mill thit we wur gettin?
I would like him to stay but only if he signs a new contract 5m can buy another player who can score goals in the cl, I love hooper but its bad business to have him for another year then leave for free with a big hole to fill for us
SOS BHOY
I like Hooper a lot but he needs to sign a contract extension or be sold rather than leave on a Bosman next summer. In retrospect he should have gone to Norwich in January because he has done very little (other than trip over his bottom lip) since. He obviously prefers CL football to slumming it with Hull and Reading so, short of a better offer, he's here to stay. If he does, where does that leave Stokes?
Aye he can sign a pre contract in the nxt window, but will get knowhere near 5mil!
1mil max and a decent wage, which is still worth hanging on for?.
If we only get 4/5 mil for him I'd rather keep him and his goals to help get us to champs lge and he can go for free.
Would love him to sign an extension on a well earned increase and that would still command a decent fee for him when the time comes again.
Bigbadjohn
If he doesn't sign another contract he has to go. I would keep him for CL qualifiers and sell him before the close of the window. If he is willing to sign a contract to make him a top earner we should also include a buy out clause so he gets his move at the end of next season and we get what we want money wise.
Hes at it he's wanting to run his contract down.renew or be sold can't afford to lose fee, we should have sold him in january
I don't understand all the talk about we can't let him go for free and having personal pops at him. I'd say we've already had our £2m worth out of him, and then some. If he stays one more season he's pretty much sure fire to reach 100 Celtic goals and I wouldn't dream of bearing a grudge against someone who had served the club so well. Hail Hail
Kevbhoy {Ed007's Note - So the first chance we have to show how well our business model works (buy young, hungry players, let them make a name for themselves then sell at a profit) will fall flat on it's face at it's first proper chance. That should set us up well for future transfer negotiations, every young player in the land will want to sign for us then leave on a Bosman. Oh and it will be more than £2 million, add the additional £2.4 million plus the add ons, his wages and other costs and it comes to a lot more than £2m, probably nearer double that. No player is bigger than CFC and everyone of them should be used to better the long-term future of the club/team.}
He didn't want to go in January. He was getting rid of his agent at the end of January, so didn't want to move until his new agent was in place. I hope he signs an extension, ensuring the club get a decent fee, he gets a pay rise and he scires rhe goals that gets us into the CL again. Then he can go with most folks blessing.
JD
I know what you're saying Ed but I don't see the point in selling just for the sake of it. I think we're a stronger team with Hooper up front and Ki was the proof that our business model works I think you'll find. There are plenty of players in our squad who we can sell for big profit but if you gave me the choice between having him or not having him then I'd choose having him. There are other assets we can offload to keepis in a good financial position.
Kevbhoy {Ed007's Note - Ki wasn't exactly a first team regular though was he, the club received an offer they couldn't say no to for a fringe player. We already got bitched with the way Larsson left and now fans wanting to allow Hooper to leave for free is preposterous. If PL allows it to happen it will be a huge mistake and will come back to haunt him in future contract negotiations with other players. PL needs to play hard-ball and show that the club won't allow itself to be used in such a manner. If clubs like Arsenal can do it with the likes of Nasri I'm sure we should be able to do it with players, sign a new deal or you will be sold.}
How can we force someone to leave? He's only honouring his contract at worst.
Stevo dundee
I've actually come round to the idea of keeping Hooper even if he doesn't sign a new deal. If we are selling Wanyama then we can afford to lose Hooper for free. Scunthorpe are due 15-20% through a sell on anyways and at 2.2 million we have well and truly had our money's worth and Hooper isn't even on 15k a week as he has never signed any extension or improved deals since he's been at Celtic. It could be around 11-12k a week. I say keep him and when he fires us into the Champions League there isn't a sane minded Celtic supporter who could begrudge the guy going on a free and no doubt a bigger club that ones being touted as potential suiters.
Fantastic points here Ed, which is why I love this site! I was all for keeping Hooper until his contract runs down until you pointed out the standard this would set. If Celtic allow this with Hooper what's to say players like Forster, Wanyama, van dijk, kayal, ledley etc won't just do the same. Our business model would be failing if this occurred! Hooper needs to sign a new contract or go, and that's coming from one of Hoopers biggest fans!
Cheers Ed!
Faithful-thru-n-thru
Some great points made here. I think Hooper is the best striker we have had at the club in a long time. I was keen to hold on to him for another year at the cost of him walking free but after reading Ed's point of how it would upset the business model, I agree he should sign an extension or be sold. You simply can't have a player of his ability able to leave the club for nothing.
Jamesbhoy90