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‘I told him’, Emilio Izaguirre said he’s met Michael Nicholson and ‘recommended’ two players Celtic should sign
Former Celtic hero, Emilio Izaguirre has revealed that he met Michael Nicholson and told him to sign two players that he believes could play for the club.
The legendary full-back was part of Brendan Rodgers’ first team during the Irishman’s first tenure at the club and he said that after appearing in the Celtic v Liverpool Legend’s match in the summer, he offered the Celtic CEO some recruitment advice.
Izaguirre said [], “I was playing in a legends match between Celtic and Liverpool. I met Michael (the club’s director) and recommended Palma and other players like Elis or Lozano.
“I spoke well of Luis, I told him that they would look at him, that he was a player who could be of great benefit to the club.
“He’s a young 22-year-old player who can have a great season and then sell him.”
Anthony ‘Choco’ Lozano as a Celtic striker?
The Honduran is an international striker with 40 caps and nine goals to his name. At 30 years old, Lozano has a wealth of experience but doesn’t really fit with Celtic’s transfer policy.
However, over 332 games he has scored 62 goals and created 27 assists. Which isn’t a bad return for a player who has spent his whole career in Spain. He currently plays for Getafe in La Liga. []
The former Tottenham trialist and Barcelona B player has never won a domestic honour in all of his career but has scored against the likes of Real Madrid and also found the back of the net in Honduras’ last international game against Cuba in which Luis Palma laid on the assist.
For me, this one is a no-go. Despite being versatile and being used as either an attacking midfielder, winger and a striker, Lozano’s goal and assists return is not good enough to justify spending money on a player at the tail end of his career.
Could Alberth Elis challenge Kyogo Furuhashi at Celtic?
The 60-cap Honduran international seems like a more viable option than Choco Lozano. Currently on loan at French side Brest, Elis has scored two goals in seven appearances.
A versatile forward, Elis can play both wings and as a lone striker. With Celtic needing cover in both areas, could the 27-year-old offer good competition for Daizen Maeda and Kyogo Furuhashi?

In 213 career appearances, Elis has scored 59 goals and created 27 assists. A much better return and he is also just coming into his peak years.
Unlike Lozano, Elis knows how to win silverware. He has a US Open Cup to his name that he won with Houston Dynamo in 2018 and a Honduran Cup that was won with CD Olimpia in 2016. []
He was also named the CONCACAF Champions League Best Young Player in 2016 as well so it is clear that he is a talented forward. []
Considering Izaguirre recommended Luis Palma, Celtic should sit up and take notice of this from their former full-back but will Rodgers take these up? January is only just around the corner.
In other news, ‘I can’t believe’: Peter Grant says VAR made a serious mistake in Celtic’s win over Ross County