Celtic’s transfer moves this summer have been interesting to say the least. On one hand, they have made some no-brainers like signing Cameron Carter-Vickers, Jota, Daizen Maeda and even Benjamin Siegrist. On the other hand, there are a couple of players who there is an element of uncertainty about like Alexandro Bernabei and Moritz Jenz. But the one move that has perhaps received the most criticism is the one for Aaron Mooy.
The consensus amongst the supporters has been that the club needed a defensive midfielder after Nir Bitton’s departure at the end of last season. And it appears that Mooy, who has arrived on a free transfer, has been brought in to fill that void.
It is an unconventional choice to say the least, as Mooy is not a traditional defensive midfielder, who can be brought in to see out games. In fact, he feels more like a back up option to Callum McGregor.
It would be safe to say that a large number of Celtic fans have felt underwhelmed by the move. Chris Sutton appears to be surprised by that though. He wrote in his column in the Daily Record:
"I’m surprised some people are underwhelmed about the arrival of Aaron Mooy. He’s not some kind of project player with potential. He’s a solid professional with a more than decent CV.Mooy couldn’t really be classed as a defensive midfielder but he does play in a deeper role these days and I would think he’d be an ideal back up for Callum McGregor.He could even play alongside the captain in certain games, perhaps in Europe."
Sutton hit back at critics of Celtic transfer signing
There is very little doubt about the fact that Mooy has the experience to do the job for Celtic. He has Premier League experience from playing at Brighton & Hove Albion and Huddersfield Town, and has been a regular feature in the Australian national team for years as well.
On top of that, Ange Postecoglou will know him well from his time as the manager of the Australian national team and will surely have a clear idea of where he fits into the current Celtic set up.
Yes, it is also not hard to see why there are some doubts about the move. Mooy is set to turn 32 soon and he has not played a lot of regular football in recent times. Many have even compared the move to the one for James McCarthy last summer. One must point out though that the Australian midfielder does not have anywhere near that injury record.