Few in the world match Celtic’s transfer success

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They call it Helicopter Money. Income that just lands in your lap without you having to do any work for it. It brings a special kind of joy. The millions Celtic will earn as a result of a sell-on clause from Virgil van Dijk’s £75m sale to Liverpool is a classic of the genre.

Right off, let’s acknowledge a few facts. Virgil’s £2.6m capture from Groningen was a brilliant piece of business by the club. Many are due credit for this, including Neil Lennon and Peter Lawwell, but the occasionally-maligned John Park, in particular, deserves applause.

Park lost his Midas touch after the January 2012 capture of Mikael Lustig, but that had as much to do with the change in comparative finances between Celtic and the bottom of the English Premier League, than any degradation of our former chief scout’s ability.

Virgil had played only 62 games in senior football when he signed for Celtic. We got him because we moved, showing incredible agility, before anyone else had the opportunity to act. We will not be able to exactly recreate the Virgil business – others see where and how exceptional value has been earned and copy, but this has always been the case.

What we can say for sure is that few clubs anywhere in the world have the success rate of Celtic at finding under-priced footballers and transforming them into Champions League players who are sold at multiples of five or ten times value.

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308 Comments

  1. Henrik @ 8.41,

     

     

    Excellent post.

     

    A long read but one everyone should take the time to consider.

     

    Very detailed and forensic, pointing out clearly the major issues in a logical and balanced form.

     

    In any normal country/ society/culture, one may conclude, “ done, bang to rights”.

     

     

    Eurochamps67

  2. I did manage out for some beers two weeks ago in one of my locals.

     

     

    I ended up getting a new girlfriend.

     

    I didn’t chat her up….I just showed some of my old dance moves.

     

     

    After witnessing this auld geezer trying to show off……SHE chatted ME up !

     

    I was 62 last week…………..

     

    62..and still a “Hit with the Chicks” !

     

     

    She is currently in Belgium for a few days and returns on Saturday night…weather permitting….and I was missing her a wee bit so……….. I bought myself two Belgian Buns from Greggs this morning….Lovely jubbly !

     

     

    The silly girl ( shes around 18 years younger than me, was hoping to meet me this Saturday night for a few drinks and kisses….I had to straighten her out about that….due to the auld Celtic gubbing the Huns tomorrow….hopefully by Saturday night…I’ll be too drunk to dance and kiss my woman…as I’ll be singing all the Celtic songs in celebration….not disco etc !

     

     

    I am slowly teaching how things might work between us, especially when Celtic’s my 1st love !

     

     

    HH

  3. what the f.

     

     

    Something is …..

     

     

     

     

    The Australian Flu is deadly.

     

     

    Every Celt is Stronger than Strong.

     

     

     

    IMO – Kieran is the 2nd best full back @ Celtic.

     

     

    Kieran is verging on World Class… he is being hesitant now because he is being overplayed.

     

     

    KT would run through a Brick Wall for Celtic.

     

     

    Celtic is really GOOD Right Here Right Now.

  4. If my post above comes across as rather sexist….I make NO apologises, as I am far too old to change my ways now at 62 years.

     

     

    It’s just the way I am. LOL

     

    HH

  5. BIG JIMMY

     

     

    You know it will all end in tears……………..for her when you break her heart when she finds out your love for THE CELTIC

     

     

    Glad your feeling a bit better

     

     

    KEEP THE FAITH

  6. I love women…beer and Celtic….not maybe in that order.

     

    HH

     

    BLANTYRE TIM….Ill text u later mate……….Ive just gpt my flat all decorated and new curtains, tv and the “new computer”…carpets…..I still need to re arrange furniture etc today and Sunday maybe.

     

    HH

  7. If anyone needs good deals on new carpets….blinds being supplied and fitted etc let me know…I have a couple of good new contacts.

     

    Also…I bought all my paint 3 weeks ago from a shop called ” The UNTOUCHABLES” just up from Glasgow Cross.

     

    After u buy one tin of emulsion….You get a great discount on the other tins…I got a £60 discount…magic.

     

    HH

  8. Murts was keeking his pants @ his presser, especially the longer it went on.

     

     

    No harm to the dude.

     

     

    Celtic have been Cheated out of so much.

     

     

    I doubt double figures could happen. Destroy the Cheats CELTIC of Glasgow/Belfast.

     

     

    Go toTown on them.

     

     

     

    No Mercy.

  9. More ADVICE Please ?

     

     

    My new girlfriend is in Belgium….would it cost me/her a lot of money if I texted her via my mobile ?

     

    Im with Tesco mobile.

     

    Before she left…I told her to watch the costs of texting me in Glasgow from abroad…was I right or should I text her ?

     

    HH

  10. My friends in Celtic

     

     

    I love the love that exists on here.

     

     

    About to jump in the shower and then into the start of my life in full.

     

     

    HH jamesgang

  11. Big Jimmy

     

    Text her and tell her to bring back 40 cases of Stella, If you are charged outrageous sums for the texts, It will be covered by the savings on the import duties on the beer…….Simples.

  12. James

     

    Wishing Jocelyn and yourself all the very very best

     

    Have a fabulous day, and future

     

     

    Hail Hail

  13. SOT,

     

     

    Angel is a re-release from Bach in the day. Absolute quality. Mezzzzzzz was World Class.

     

     

    JG,

     

     

    Big Guy, make as many Kids as possible.

     

     

    Respect.

     

     

     

    GOD BLESS All the Corner Dudes

     

     

    It is Cool outside.

     

     

    Kristoffer Ajer. :))))))

     

     

    World Class

     

     

    Feed the Ajer

     

     

    Feed the Ajer

     

     

    CerysMatthews.CSC

  14. BIG JIMMY @ 12 16

     

     

    Roaming Charges have been barred in Europe .

     

     

    It doesn’t cost me a cent more to phone or text my old man in Hyndland than it does to phone or text the mad mental Inter Ole Codger from down the valley .

     

     

    The latter is super dissonant at present — mightily miffed that his beloved Inter managed to lose to a Milan team managed by Gattuso but also basking in that see I was right- I told you so- -Spalletti is a tottie — as Inter lurch from an unbeaten run to losing 3 on the trot .

  15. Big Jimmy, Tesco mobile are either free for texts or 1p each- I cant remember which but I used them from Belgium earlier in the year.

     

    HH

  16. TONYROME

     

    Take care if you are driving but as you say if A says your’e gaun , your’e gaun !! Just raining down here wee bit of snow on surrounding hills but otherwise ok , hope game on tomorrow because i’m really loking forward to another hunskelping ! BIGMICKSCSC

  17. Cheers Bhoys for the advice about texting abroad.

     

     

    Can I also now ask for more advice as I am seeing more ads on this blog……agin.

     

    How do I click on an ad blocker ?

     

    Cheers.

     

    HH

  18. Jamesgang

     

     

    Best of luck to you both big fhella…….if I was working today I would have given you a lift :O) hh