Maik Nawrocki is reportedly in France for a medical with Lens, who finished just six points behind European champions PSG, in Ligue 1 last season. He is the latest of our crop of 2023 recruits who other clubs have seen enough talent to move for.
When Maik left Legia Warsaw to come to Celtic three years ago the Polish club were quoted as saying he would be come the next Virgil van Dijk in Glasgow. As well as being an outstanding defender in Warsaw for two years, the then 22-year-old had the ability to take a pass under pressure and step into midfield.
Celtic had followed Maik and Gus Lagerbielke (who reached the Europa League semifinal with Braga last season) the previous season under Ange Postecoglu, then Brendan Rodgers signed both, but the Irishman wanted a ready-made central defender and secured Nat Phillips on deadline day. Neither Maik nor Gus were given a proper chance in Glasgow.
This is an age old debate in football: sign and develop prospects, or sign experienced players who are no longer getting a game in places like the EPL. There is no absolute right answer. Factors like who the club is, their tolerance for development and most crucially, the ability of their manager to develop young players, all have to be factored.
I understand Brendan Rodgers had not seen much of Nat Phillips when the agent call came in, but the deal had enough in it to entice the Celtic manager. A player with EPL experience, albeit limited, offered him comfort.
Having said there are no absolute answers to this question, for Celtic, there is a strong preference. Our football identity should not be one of the displaced who formerly featured on Match of the Day but are no longer seen there.
This morning, I also see reports of how Celtic are finding it difficult to attract their top targets to the Scottish league. This has always been the case and should surprise no one. Do the hard recruitment yards. Have options with development road ahead and with profiles low enough to consider Glasgow Shangri-La. Nurture a reputation as a place where prospects come and thrive, and then get their move to the EPL.
This works. It is a coherent football identity for Celtic. We have yet to recover from the events of 2023.
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Trump on at the moment,trying to get Infantinos head out of his Ass.Trump on one of his incomptehensible speeches.A total embarassment.
Meanwhile,in the UK,Andy Burnham,looking like a younger version of Keir Starmer,after the makeover mob have had him in.Dear God.
Parkheadcumsalford on 17th July 2026 9:10 pm
Maybe it’s an age thing, but I am definitely in Tontine Tim’s camp.
*Thanks PCS I suppose its because we’ve been there along with the faithful at the coal face and often walked away wondering what went wrong after we watched our team getting robbed and wronged again and it was that way until the Big Mhan on signing on for us as Team Manger was informed by Bob Kelly that there were some things that would happen that were out of our control and we just have to get on with it, or words to that effect, to which as High McIlvanney informed us he muttered under his breath “aye that’ll be right”, he didnae always get it right but he NEVER EVER held back in his defence of our club, too many on here need a wake up call as to what supporting Celtic is really all about
MON is beholden to the “owner” and is part of the problem now.
His silence on the shambles he can clearly see from inside makes him an accomplice to the failure.
Rodgers had the guts to speak out as they stopped communicating with him in the last week of the window when Desmond forced through the sale of Idah to screw him.
MON has made a rod for his own back and all across Timdom the message is clear tonite.
His legacy will be destroyed if he does not walk — surely worth more than Desmond’s 20 pieces of silver…
anyone surprised how this is going? Seen it all before
The briefing from the club that Iheanacho’s agent asked for £47K a week after a deal was agreed is typically disingenuous.
We had an option for one year which we failed to trigger in time.
According to the Herald, iheanacho’s agent wanted £47k a week.
Chairbhoy on 17th July 2026 2:26 pm
PeterLatchfordsBelly @ 12:23 pm,
Celtic’s wage bill was £23,574,200 last season – at the moment it’s less.
It is certainly ballpark with WBA
https://salarysport.com/football/scottish-premiership/celtic/
The Board and certain posters want to scaremonger and misdirect with FSR – it is a load of balooney… we have a huge amount of headroom.
Hail Hail
+++++++++++++++
As someone who not only has tried to explain how FSR works read this again:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1SEk-z4Zrss6f0sJn-Cs8qhtaEzPLDUob/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=107947982974245186134&rtpof=true&sd=true
and I have been explicit that there is room to spend more on playing squad, even on EL income ,so can you point out the scallywags to me who are misdirecting and I will put them straight.
Name and shame and make it clear who your comments are aimed at in the interest of not misdirecting CQN readers.
I thought MN said the silence was deliberate cos smsm will run an anti Celtic story.
So, wthat being the case, how did they get hold of the KI £47,000 story.
Spoon fed to a compliant journo.
Utter shite and bollocks.
The divide just keeps growing.
The Celtic team and the fans lose because of these useless board bastards.
Club briefing against Iheanacho in the press. The ‘Hearts were assaulted’ press btw.
We thought the paralysis last year was bad enough, but look at this summer. Couldn’t get Maloney and Foz back in. A big production resigning AOC. Iheanacho deal allowed to fall then they seek to make a virtue of that failure in briefing against his revised demands!
A bad day got worse for them with Saracchi’s goodbye post. Both players MO’N public ally stated he wanted and expected back. He underestimated just how much of a useless diddy Nicholson is.
Having made a total meal of all of the above what hope can have about the tougher business facing us?
How long before CalMac walks away in response to this calamity? Or even MO’N? Nicholson’s disaster classes get worse year on year.
Total diddy.
My God, the blind trust of this Board by some on here is breathtaking. talk about gluttons for punishment.
Never thought I’d see the day when I’m absolutely pining for Lawwell!!!….while he short changed us many a time and obviously stabbed Rodgers in the back
He at least could conclude deals !!!!
PETERLATCHFORDSBELLY on 17TH JULY 2026 9:32 PM
We will sign players,
—————————————-
Yes, this is the bit where the BR emptying started last summer
MON is effectively Brendan Rodgers,
He’s now got to back his employers something BR got fed up doing, and bolted. Sound bites heading our way, he may have won the miracle double but he ain’t seen nothing like this lot, not even in his first spell. Will he do it? you bet he will, gladly for his old friend, he’ll get notorious predictable mad spend at the end of the window, and tell the supporters he’s happy.
As for Celtic’s Gerald Ratner the CEO he is a qualified Lawyer and a partner at Harper Macleod he also serves on various other successfull working groups and is a member of the Legal Advisory Group. He is an Arbitrator for the Court of Arbitration for Sport and has just been appointed to the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) board.
If ever a man was qualified it’s him, but clearly not as a leader of Celtic working in DD’s
realm or any realm for that matter.
After no contact with Saracchi for weeks Nicholson is getting the backlash now after his message to the fans tonite.
He is that desperate he will go after Greg Taylor who has struggled in Greece to compensate for Sarrachi.
No recruitment strategy just a desperate man totally out of his depth. Just like Nancy who Nicholson brought in but left in role too long that he was being ridiculed.
Nicholson told the Celtic support he isn’t up to the job and doesn’t have the guts to deal with agents, players and clubs. Why he is still here is a mystery only Desmond can answer — if he can free himself up from the British Open.
Rangers media base silent on the shambles as they want Nicholson in place as long as possible to maximise damage to the club. The mute is wreaking chaos behind the scenes. Six months to fix recruitment and nothing done.
Yeh let’s sign Greg Taylor.
It’s not Sevco or Hearts we have to worry about , the biggest threat is much closer to home . Desmond , Nicholson , Wilson and McKay are decimating the club . Most saddening of all , Martin O’Neill seems to be in on the plan , even if he’s not one of the main players.
Watch your back, Martin.
Ramping up on here over the last few days.
You’re now part of the problem …
… in the minds of some.
This board of snivelling sycophants seem to be more concerned with getting yes men on board rather than competents. What we are all wondering is does Brennan take his Lawwell approved post before or after the transfer window closes since he fit the job criteria so well?
Square Jaw wants to cut the wage bill in a context of £100m in the bank after SB money.
In
Duran
Out
Palma, Nawrocki, Inamura, Welsh, Schmeichel, Saracchi, Iheanacho, Cvancara, Mvuka, Adamu, Araujo, Yamada, Arthur
Expected outs
Bernardo, Hatate, Maeda, Engels
Possible outs
CalMac, AJ, Trusty
I met Gary Sobers once in The Harbour Lights disco in Barbados in 1983.
We got chatting and he asked if I knew Jim Baxter who Sobers came acquainted with when Baxter was at Notts Forrest and Sobers Notts CCC.
I said no but my fil sent me a copy each week of the Sunday Mail and Baxter was serialising his life story in it.
Sobers grabbed my arm and looked at me with a worried expression and asked if he was mentioned by Jim.
I said no but if Sobers name did come up that I had the only copy on the island and would let him know.
I don’t know if that reassured him but methinks Sobers and Baxter were a couple of Scallywags when in Nottingham.
I would love to get Mike from Toronto’s opinion on this. I have been involved in contract negotiations for the best pert of 25 years in different types of business. I am not a lawyer, but I believe that lawyers are the worst “negotiators” Mike not a slight on you personally but from my experience lawyers want to “win” whatever that means.
The read-back saddens me; as a club we’re so (small ‘s’) successful and yet so fractured at the same time.
Plenty bile, frustration, recrimination and personal attacks on people we don’t even know. Not the Celtic way.
The exec and shareholder cohort surely can’t want this baffling situ either. Self inflicted wounds tho.
Amid the febrile atmos, I recall these wise words…
‘Nobody knows anything…… Not one person in the entire motion picture field knows for a certainty what’s going to work. Every time out it’s a guess and, if you’re lucky, an educated one.’
WILLIAMGOLDMAN CSC
An Dún on 17th July 2026 11:13 pm
The briefing from the club that Iheanacho’s agent asked for £47K a week after a deal was agreed is typically disingenuous.
We had an option for one year which we failed to trigger in time.
============
Alternatively Iheanacho was shopping around for a better deal with a longer contract and got one. Fitbaw players wit ur they like?
This is mine on X abot where power lies.
Without knowing the ins & outs of contract negotiations a fair judgement cannot be reached on outcomes. The idea a Celtic CEO has power over agents & players is delusional.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1617TBPOCzSfxtMfRWI9LUZgVQ3SlBOFDrj-vekfHEBo/edit?usp=drivesdk
and all CEOs r up against it in the real world, but hey no slack shall be cut for MN.
docs.google.com
Evolution Soccerntv.doc
An Dún on 17th July 2026 11:13 pm
We had an option for one year which we failed to trigger in time.
*well if MON hudnae committed himself at the time and we might have to look for another manager mibbees thats why, anyway we’ll see how he pans out in turkey, looking like one last big pay cheque, no that I blame him but done the same myself at an oulder age
quadrophenian on 18th July 2026 1:06 am
Socrates the Greek philosopher said this about knowing ” The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing”
He argued that true wisdom isn’t about accumulating facts , but recognising the limits of you own knowledge, in doing so shed the illusion of certainty and open your mind to continuous learning , curiosity and general inquiry.
The world is full of know it alls.
and I posted this on X
Unlike I suspect most of you I did a fair amount of negotiating with MN for 9 years as Res12 battled against what turned out be UEFA corruption. I found MN a decent human being which was proved when he took up a suggestion to reimburse Res12 legal expenses £11.2k that shareholders
Then agreed to be donated to The Foundation. That is the Celtic way to me, not what I see now which is dehumanising fellow human beings for not making them happy. We will turn into what we despise on current trajectory & that is a greater nightmare. The loss of the soul of Celtic.
That got this response.
John Hughes
@yogijunior3
·
3h
Ach, would ye give me peace. MN is a lovely fella. I know him as well as you do. That does not absolve him of responsibility for being atrocious at his job. You are unduly affected by your familiarity. Congratulation on being a name dropping, cap doffing, board justifying, pain in the hole.
———-
Auldheid
@Auldheid
·
1h
You only know what you know about MN in the same way as I only know what I know. That does not mean he is the right man for the job in terms of the personality a Celtic CEO needs, but I think the reaction to my bringing MN’s humanity into things is interesting but not surprising.
=============
This whole episode in Celtic’s history requires a metanoia.
Interesting essay Auldheid.
Reading this bit – ‘When this realisation finally dawns about who currently owns football a consensual wage ceiling might emerge to allow football to again become the people’s game…’
I thought of the A-League: Where a salary cap system of sorts applies to all teams and 9 different sides have won the title in recent years. My local faves (Western Utd) won it a few years back and have just has quickly gone to the wall.
Despite the kum-ba-ya spirit, the league is bleeding cash and there’s uncertainty around its viability as – despite the huge participation levels in junior soccer – the AFL commands all the media attention, with the football league getting mm of coverage by compare.
The perfect model has not been found nor proven.
AH –
Any decent fella would deem that kind of abuse you copped grim.
quadrophenian on 18th July 2026 1:36 am
AH –Any decent fella would deem that kind of abuse you copped grim.
*I was told on leaving school to join the BIG world that if someone is talking about you then they are leaving some other poor soul alone, actually it wisnae soul but see you next thursday, lol
It’s such a clusterfeck at the club just now
We need leaders at the top,not what we have just now
You wonder if Calmac will leave for Saudi money
Ange or Brendan will be circling
Tontime Tim
“too many on here need a wake up call as to what supporting Celtic is really all about”
so basically just “Behave” again ?
supporting celtic means backing the board ?
buying season tickets, merch, online shyte is not enough ?
you must also back folk who treat you with contempt & disdain to be a real tim ?
I take it you’re still backing the Whites and the Kellys ?
spikeysauldman on 18th July 2026 2:20 am
Tontime Tim “too many on here need a wake up call as to what supporting Celtic is really all about” so basically just “Behave” again ? supporting celtic means backing the board ? buying season tickets, merch, online shyte is not enough ? you must also back folk who treat you with contempt & disdain to be a real tim ?I take it you’re still backing the Whites and the Kellys ?
*no I’m NOT saying all that but this greetin and gnashin of teeth when we have a very good domestic record and through members of our Board ensured that there will never be a rag and bone guy destroying OUR game ever again but I also feel and this WC is evidence of this that we will NEVER win the Big Cup again but I do think that we can win one of the lesser ones, and yes like some on here do believe that DD is to blame for the recent clusterfuck but hopefully with his retention of MON we can move on as he would love revenge for Seville.
As for the Kellys and Whites I can still feel my da’s hand on the back of my heid when he asked after a stupid altercation I had with some huns “do you think Bob Kelly will pay your fine” we were NEVER board lovers EVER
Good Morning Fholk – Grand Day To Be A Tim
Auldheid @ 11:20 pm,
“….so can you point out the scallywags to me who are misdirecting and I will put them straight.
Name and shame and make it clear who your comments are aimed at in the interest of not misdirecting CQN readers.
Well, most CQN readers are now aware of the misdirection, their comments are much more likely to give me clarity than the other way around…
Still you asked for an example – well the folk who published this and those who backed them up on their misdirection.
“….Further, the Club’s model is not optional – it is now essential as a consequence of the UEFA Sustainability Regulations, with which the Club must comply. Wages and transfer spending are strictly governed by UEFA’s regulations, which effectively cap wages and transfer spending as a proportion of our revenues. Importantly, the Club’s cash reserves are not relevant to the assessment of this de facto spending cap for the purposes of the UEFA regulations.”
https://www.celticfc.com/news/2025/september/06/celtic-football-club-statement/
So this point…
…Wages and transfer spending are strictly governed by UEFA’s regulations, which effectively cap wages and transfer spending as a proportion of our revenues.
This is the balooney I was talking about, it came from the Board but naming and shaming the individuals are difficult unless they make their positions and names open to the public.
However, I don’t expect you to call out these “scallywags”, I’d expect you to “cut them some slack”
For clarity – FSR has not capped any Celtic PLC spend on wages or transfer spend as the Board’s self imposed caps are far more stringent.
The Board’s “caps” are so stringent that it has actually caused near paralysis of our recruitment activities – that was never UEFA’s objective.
Hail Hail
TONTINE TIM on 18TH JULY 2026 1:26 AM
An Dún on 17th July 2026 11:13 pm
We had an option for one year which we failed to trigger in time.
*well if MON hudnae committed himself at the time and we might have to look for another manager mibbees thats why,
—-
But somehow we managed to get extensions sorted for Scales and McCowan ?
AULDHEID
Have a read of this.
https://www.celticfc.com/news/2025/september/02/welcome-to-celtic–kelechi-iheanacho/
The club had an option. So what Iheanacho wanted was not relevant. The club failed to trigger the option in time and are now scrambling to deflect.
I’m not losing any sleep over Iheanacho but I will call out the disingenuous deflection from the club.
Good morning all.
TT – fair enough – and HH – and hopefully it was only the District Court !
Worst close season cup run ever
Wonder how much money we have “lost” today with the lack of signings and choice of opponent for today’s “friendly”.
Will be interesting to see how much activity and interest there is for next Saturday’s game v Milan too. Would like to think we can put on a show for that game.
An Dún @ 5:36 am,
That’s exactly the point – someone was making descsions on player contracts, such as extensions Luke McCowan and letting players go, such as Stephen Welsh.
We have seen Celtic PLC do the Kelechi play many times, notably Craig Gordon, not taking up the option and then low-balling with a new contract, he walked away then we desperately needed him when big Fraser Forster did the same.
PC Lustig who had his time at Celtic tainted by the Board’s shabby low-balling.
The point here is not whether us as supporters think the player will enhance the team.
Two players the Manager has expressly stated he wanted for this season Marcelo and Kelechi – he knows more than us, for instance the quality of players we are currently pursuing and how our recruitment is being handled.
Hail Hail