Former English Premier League goalkeeper Shay Given thinks Celtic signing Evan Ferguson on loan for the season would be 'perfect'.
The Irish striker is currently on the books at Brighton and Hove Albion after an unsuccessful loan spell at West Ham United last season.
Ferguson initially burst onto the scene at Brighton in the 2022/23 campaign, scoring 10 goals and assisting three across 25 appearances in all competitions.
Read more:
-
The 'what if' Celtic moment Shay Given was 'praying to God' didn't happen
-
Arne Engels pens heartfelt message as he reflects on first year at Celtic
He has managed to score just seven club goals in the two campaigns since.
"Evan just needs to find a home, if I’m being honest," said Given.
"Be it here [at Celtic] or somewhere else. He needs someone to say, ‘You’re my player.’
"He went to West Ham for Graham Potter and you thought that was the perfect fit because Graham had him at Brighton. But then he didn’t play so much at West Ham either.
"Michail Antonio and someone else was injured, yet they played Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus - not Ferguson. What happens next for Evan?
"I just think he needs to go, be it a loan for a season or some club buys him, and you build the team around him. I think he’s a top player, I really do.
"I did some Malaysian TV recently with Bobby Zamora and he goes into Brighton once a week and coaches the strikers. Bobby said Evan was the best finisher at the club.
"Maybe because he burst onto the scene that everyone’s been expecting so much so soon. But again, with young players, you need to have a bit of time.
"I just feel he’s ready now to burst onto the scene for a full season with somebody. For us, with Ireland, it would be great too.
"I don’t know if the finances would be to buy him, but if you said for a loan for the season, it would be perfect. But I’m not the financial power at Celtic or Newcastle, so I don’t know!"