Roy Keane advised the Southampton and Ireland striker to take a look in the mirror before making a call on his next career move.
Ireland’s assistant manager also mused, aloud, about the number of games Long has started and finished for the Saints. The Tipperary native was doing well under Ronald Koeman but he has not convinced Claude Puel or Mauricio Pellegrino.
He scored 10 goals and contributed four assists in 28 Premier League games [23 starts] in Koeman’s final season at St Mary’s. Under Puel, he made 32 league outings but only 10 were starts. His return was three goals and a single assist.
With the summer transfer window set to close on Thursday night, Long has once again found himself linked with a move. Newcastle, Brighton and Crystal Palace have all been mentioned as possible destinations but one switch definitely had fans talking – Celtic.
https://twitter.com/mrjohnnymac18/status/902806150546063360
Imagine Celtic brought in Roberts, Denayer & Shane Long in the same transfer window 😱
— Adam Lynch 🇵🇸 (@AdamLynch27) August 29, 2017
I've just looked at phone and seeing Shane Long to Celtic in newsfeed. Great singing if Celtic could sort it. Imagine wages very high.
— Rachel Lynch (@Rachel_Lynchx) August 29, 2017
A move to Celtic Park would give Long the chance to lead the line, ensure his involvement in at least six Champions League games and get him playing in front of some of the most passionate fans in the game.
Being part of a winning Celtic team and finding the net more often would definitely help with Long’s confidence levels and his international prospects.
Hoops fans may be set for some disappointment, however. Brendan Rodgers has brought Patrick Roberts back in from Manchester City and there have been reporters linking Jason Denayer with a return to the club. Should Rodgers hang onto Moussa Dembélé, he may be content with taking those forwards further into 2017/18.
A large impediment in any Long move to the Scottish Premiership would be his wages. Last season, the 30-year-old was reported to be on a weekly wage of £45,000. That would prove far too costly for Celtic, who on average pay their first team squad £717,000 per year. Dembélé and Scott Sinclair are the club’s top earners on £25,000 per week.
With Ireland heading out to Georgia on Thursday for a crucial World Cup qualifier, Long may have to sign off on any deals today if he has looked himself in the mirror and decided to leave Southampton.
