Expensive Celtic failure Olivier Ntcham has been offered a footballing reprieve following his release from Parkhead from a former Rangers director.
Now at Swansea City, former Ibrox Director of Football Mark Allen has moved to snap up the Frenchman in what could prove a solid move by the English Championship club.
Ntcham, 25, was released by Celtic in the summer after four years in Glasgow despite originally costing our Old Firm rivals £4.5m from Manchester City in 2017 [Daily Mail].
It all ended in tears as the midfielder downed tools and since leaving Parkhead Ntcham has struggled for opportunities.
Speaking to the official Swansea website after the deal was concluded, the Frenchman even claimed he spoke to Allen during the ex-Man City staffer’s time in Glasgow.
“Mark [Allen] had a lot to do with the move as he has known me since I was 16 years old,” said Ntcham.
“He was the one who brought me to Manchester City and I spent five years there.
“We have a really good relationship, I must be honest and say I did not know he was working for Swansea as I had last seen him at Rangers when I was at Celtic.
“I was talking with him and the coach and our conversations about everything were good.
“It’s true Mark used to speak to me after the games against Rangers [and say he would like to sign me again].
“I used to think it was because he was angry as we used to beat them a lot, but it is true he used to say that. Now it is true.”
Allen, 58, was promoted to the position of sporting director at the Welsh club in the summer following eight successful months as Swansea’s Academy Manager.
The established recruitment specialist also spent eight years as Man City’s Academy Manager before joining Rangers as Director of Football in 2017.
Allen left Ibrox in 2019 due to “family reasons” and Rangers would move to sign ex-Southampton transfer chief Ross Wilson as Sporting Director.
Now that the transfer window is shut, perhaps Wilson’s next move will be securing the contracts of two influential first team stars.
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