Owen Coyle insists that Victor Wanyama is ready, in terms of physique and ability, to play in the Barclays Premier League, writes Richard Wilson.
The former Bolton Wanderers manager has attended Celtic's last four Champions League ties and is convinced that the midfielder already possesses the attributes required to move to one of England's leading sides.
Wanyama was identified by the Celtic scouting department, bought for a modest £900,000 fee and is now worth significantly more in the transfer market.
"If truth be told, domestically he looks too strong for anyone round about him," said Coyle, who once tried to sign Beram Kayal, Celtic's Israeli midfielder, for Bolton. "He is just shrugging them off. But more than that, this year he has added to his goals tally.
"He is an outstanding young player. And the thing is, because he is young he is going to get even better. Peter Lawwell has put a fantastic infrastructure in place at Celtic Park. John Park identifies the talent and some of the players he has brought it have been excellent.
"You go and get Ki for £2m and sell him for £8m. Wanyama was £900,000 and is worth £8m-£10m now. So you will get the odd one wrong at that price. Every signing is a gamble, however much you pay."
Owen Coyle insists that Victor Wanyama is ready, in terms of physique and ability, to play in the Barclays Premier League.
The former Bolton Wanderers manager has attended Celtic's last four Champions League ties and is convinced that the midfielder already possesses the attributes required to move to one of England's leading sides.
Wanyama was identified by the Celtic scouting department, bought for a modest £900,000 fee and is now worth significantly more in the transfer market.
"If truth be told, domestically he looks too strong for anyone round about him," said Coyle, who once tried to sign Beram Kayal, Celtic's Israeli midfielder, for Bolton. "He is just shrugging them off. But more than that, this year he has added to his goals tally.
"He is an outstanding young player. And the thing is, because he is young he is going to get even better. Peter Lawwell has put a fantastic infrastructure in place at Celtic Park. John Park identifies the talent and some of the players he has brought it have been excellent.
"You go and get Ki for £2m and sell him for £8m. Wanyama was £900,000 and is worth £8m-£10m now. So you will get the odd one wrong at that price. Every signing is a gamble, however much you pay."
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