James McCarthy M Celtic b.1990

[SkStu]

I think he is 90 per cent certain to come

Yes, Richard is 90 per cent but I’m not a magician

the emergence of Marc Wilson and Séamus Coleman giving the side “30 per cent” more attacking capability down the right and left flanks.

Trap's grasp of statistics is effortless - a statistician to rival Tets in my humble opinion...

Hoolahan might add a little more through the centre, too, but the Italian didn’t quantify the impact the midfielder might have.

This is one of the funniest lines i have read in any article in quite some time!

[gastric]

This is becoming an unnecessary sideshow that really can't be good for team morale. All this speculation, why the hell don't they just ring him and clarify if he is going or not, and if he is not ask why. His father has been unwell in the past, could this possibly be the reason why he may not go?

http://www.independent.ie/sport/socc...-29320893.html

[rebelmusic]

Very likely could move to Everton with Martinez. Happy he's going to a bigger club, unhappy that he isn't getting experience with a new Coach

[DeLorean]

Seems a strong possibility alright, nothing too concrete here but already being linked.

[Sullivinho]

Very likely could move to Everton with Martinez. Happy he's going to a bigger club, unhappy that he isn't getting experience with a new Coach

Had the same thought myself. How much would Everton be willing to spend on him though?

[tommy_c12000]

Spurs leading the chase according to Northcroft in the Sunday Times. Wigan looking for 20m . . . .

http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/...cle1274788.ece

[OwlsFan]

This is becoming an unnecessary sideshow that really can't be good for team morale. All this speculation, why the hell don't they just ring him and clarify if he is going or not, and if he is not ask why. His father has been unwell in the past, could this possibly be the reason why he may not go?

http://www.independent.ie/sport/socc...-29320893.html

Mischievous press making a story about nothing, including O'Shea and Kelly.

[Spudulika]

Mischievous press making a story about nothing, including O'Shea and Kelly.

I think it only takes reading the name of the "author" to tell you all you need to know. This is the same person who had an inside senior source giving Trap the sack some months back.

[gastric]

I think it only takes reading the name of the "author" to tell you all you need to know. This is the same person who had an inside senior source giving Trap the sack some months back.

I wondered when you would give your opinion on this Indo article Spud! You really hate it don't you?

[Crosby87]

Coyle: We dont want to sell James. For all of you that get your panties in a bunch over Goal.com, dont click the link!
http://www.goal.com/en-ie/news/3942/...ck-at-giovanni

[tricky_colour]

From a link on that page McCarthy's destination odds from paddy power.

Arsenal 2/1
Liverpool 3/1
Chelsea 5/1
Man United/Tottenham 8/1
Man City 12/1
Celtic 16/1

However different story else where.

Everton 4/6 1
Tottenham 5/4 6/4
Arsenal 10 16
Chelsea 20 20

So I suspect the first set of odds are out of date and the second are accurate, and suggest as one might suspect
that there is little to no chance of McCarthy staying at Wigan. Indeed I can't find any McCarthy odds on Paddy Power now.

[Olé Olé]

James deserves to be with a strong Premier League side and Everton does seem the most likely destination. Issue is, I doubt they can afford him, that is unless they do sell Fellaini. I think James has the potential to add the dynamism to his game that Fellaini boasts, even if he isn't quite as physically imposing. All in all, if they manage to get £25m for Fellaini and invest £10m or so in McCarthy, they have change to buy an actual striker. Leroy Fer has been stating Everton are still keeping contact with him but I would imagine he was instructed by his agent to drum up a bit of interest ahead of July 1st.

Coyle is a fellow Glaswegian of Irish descent. Might that count for something? There are too many factors stacked against that fact carrying weight in McCarthy's decision. If the right club comes in with a bid Whelan deems acceptable, he's off.

Of the clubs being mentioned, I'd quite love to see him at Arsenal. There isn't exactly a mountain of central midfield talent in their current squad. Actually, they're quite short of options there since Ramsay has looked, at times, limited by a lack of confidence. McCarthy alongside the class of Wilshere and experience and quality of Arteta could prove a fertile environment for him.

[BonnieShels]

It would be a dream for him to head to Arsenal. I don't want him to head to Everton now that Martinez is there.

[Crosby87]

Do you think he is Wenger type player?

[geysir]

James' price tag has increased in increments of £4m since January when £8m was bandied about. £12m in the spring, £16m before the cup final and his Ireland appearance, now a figure of £20m just raises a slight blush. Go for it Wigan.

[Charlie Darwin]

Somebody should tell Owen Coyle he had 68 pages of comments before he'd even made his international debut, his value would shoot through the roof.

[BonnieShels]

Only 68?

That would make McClean worth at least 45million then.

[tricky_colour]

Do you think he is Wenger type player?

Not anymore, he is 22 now.

[tricky_colour]

James' price tag has increased in increments of £4m since January when £8m was bandied about. £12m in the spring, £16m before the cup final and his Ireland appearance, now a figure of £20m just raises a slight blush. Go for it Wigan.

Big difference between paper talk and reality.

Much close to the first figure than the last I suspect, however we will see, or actually it will be for an undisclosed sum.

[BonnieShels]

Not anymore, he is 22 now.

Tut tut.