Olivier Ntcham, 21, yesterday became the third most expensive signing in Celtic history, the initial payment was slightly north of the £4.5m quoted, and there are add-ons which are likely to take the total price above that which was paid for Chris Sutton and John Hartson.
The most striking element of the deal is that the player has played only 39 games in senior football. Compare this to van Dijk and Wanyama, who had played over 60 games before coming to Celtic, and you get an idea of how the transfer market has changed in a few years.
60 games is now too late. You need to be on the ground watching and ready to move inside 40 games. More than this and top talent will likely already be competitively priced out of reach.
A consequence of this trend will be an increase in one element of the transfer risk: any scout would prefer to see more than 39 senior games before making a recommendation. But this risk is mitigated by the fact that waiting on a player to increase in value, only introduces the risks associated with paying a higher price.
Then there is the risk of doing nothing at all………
What we do know is that everyone at Celtic, the management, scouts and board, are happy to have secured Olivier’s signature.
Welcome to Celtic, Olivier.
You know when the PSNI say, “The only way you can have the game in Belfast that week is if it’s on Friday and there are no away supporters”. Then Linfield insist on having the home game first due to TV money. Then someone else at the PSNI says they did not block Celtic fans from attending?
Well, that just happened.
Here is the new CQN Podcast…
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June Whitfield is 91
BOURNESOUPRECIPE on 13TH JULY 2017 5:35 PM
TTT
We can swap more photos soon ☺️
*****
Aye, just eight days to go.
The invasion starts on Sunday!!
BOURNESOUPRECIPE on 13TH JULY 2017 5:46 PM
June Whitfield is 91
****
Not bad odds for a woman her age.
BSR-T3- VG -Seriously Chris Evart looks as if she has been preserved in a bubble somewhere…
TTT
Yer hot today.
Seeing June Whitfield Cliff Richard Shirley Bassey et all in the Royal Box is just so
insanely British.
HAPPY HOOOOOOOOPY BIRTHDAY to
OLDTIM67!!!!!
Get the gin oot,get wrapped right roon it. Stick some Pims in it for Wimbledon fortnight.
BADA
18 grand slams and still looking great.
BBC headline news ……………….” Celtic fans that try and get into Windsor Park will be refused entry “
BOURNESOUPRECIPE on 13TH JULY 2017 5:46 PM
June Whitfield is 91
FFS is this all we have in our lives.CLARE GROGAN all day was bad enough.
anyway i’m aff tae PORTA POLLENSA tomorrow .will be in JOHN’S watching game.possibly ELVIS on sunday night.
cocolocoCSC.
BOURNESOUPRECIPE on 13TH JULY 2017 5:58 PM
TTT
Yer hot today.
Seeing June Whitfield Cliff Richard Shirley Bassey et all in the Royal Box is just so
insanely British.
————————————–
If only they’d been sitting on some pallets wi’ a fleg they could have been quintessentially British.
Starry – You’ve got mail bhoy………
;)
Very happy with our signings so far. Bit disappointed that GMS couldn’t find the form he brought with him at first,still a young lad,and I wish him well.
Steven Caulkner? Well…
I read his interview a few weeks back,and my first thought is he’ll be dead before he’s 30 if he can’t straighten out his life. And to do that,he has to get his career back.
But who would take such a risk?
Paul McGrath had similar problems,as I recall-though not so much with violent behaviour. He is still trying to conquer his demons,and if anyone deserves to succeed,Paul does.
I’d have taken him in a heartbeat back in the day.
So if the manager has faith in SC and in himself that it’s a good move by the club,they all have my support.
HH
BTW
Bada……
Sade is 58………..!
How did THAT happen?
BOURNESOUPRECIPE on 13TH JULY 2017 6:02 PM
BADA
18 grand slams and still looking great.
Aye June is an old trooper…:)
Sue Barker was actually interviewing a woman claiming to be Chris Evert
*Evert
BADA
Wee June was in Carry on Nurse circa 1950’s ish
BB- looks like we have started a Cougar thread….:)
FAV UNC
Jammy so n’ so
BSR- She hasn’t changed much, but wouldn’t have had her down for 91, live long and prosper.
Cougars is it…….?
:)
We’ll be talkin’ about a certain striking meteroligical madame next……
WarmFront CSC
Bada Bing, she,s in the right age bracket but if she can fit through a wimbledon turnstyle she,s of no interest to me:_)
Oldtim, happy happy birthday my friend, ya auld basturt. Great to catch up with you at HT & the Minx,s wedding.
Catman, congratulations on your first grandchild. HIV ye called him kittenman? Does the new arrival have any info on Paddy, cos you,re losing yer touch. Sort herself oot.
HH
Wee June
back in the day
BANKIEBHOY1 on 13TH JULY 2017 6:09 PM
BTW
Bada……
Sade is 58………..!
How did THAT happen?
Do we call her Sadie now? :))
BSR – Ya rascal ye ;))
!!BADA BING!! on 13TH JULY 2017 6:14 PM
BB- looks like we have started a Cougar thread….:)
————-
GILF thread more like….!
Can hear the HR mob sharpening their nails
..
!!BADA BING!! on 13TH JULY 2017 6:22 PM
Can hear the HRT mob sharpening their nails
—————————-
Fixed that fur ye… :-)
Does anyone know if Aberdeen are embarrassing themselves live on TV tonight, or just on the radio?
DAVIDOPOULOS on 13TH JULY 2017 6:28 PM
Does anyone know if Aberdeen are embarrassing themselves live on TV tonight, or just on the radio?
—————————
Not on TV according to http://www.live-footballontv.com
But on Radio Scotland by the sound of it
BMCUW
Happy belated birthday. Sorry I didny manage on the day. Been too busy enjoyin masel trying to prop up the Sardinian beer industry… knew you’d understand ;)
Old Tim
Happy birthday…. see above :)
BMCUW
I read that interview and I hope Celtic give the guy a chance.
4th best team in Luxembourg about to kick off
2nd rd uncharted territory
ACGR
Thanks pal. Little Aaron is a future Celtic captain in the making :-)
Really hoping that Paddy commits to that No7 jersey. Good vibes but a long way to 31st August
HH
Looking forward … Big Pete will inevitably give the other clubs an option of if your not with us … option . I suspect the smaller clubs will think what financially is in it for me and do nothing.
The option of a Scottish court is unthinkable so CAS it is , we will need to threaten this to the SFA , in time honoured fashion a stinking compromise will be offered by the SFA ; something like sine die a bunch of directors / lose titles but subject to good behaviour over the next 10 years ( including full accounting compliance ) then option of reclaiming said titles ….
Working assumption is that we will be on our own on this one and will have to go to CAS for this but this could be tricky
Carman, that’s you longest range tip yet but if you say he,s a future captain that’s good enough for me. Good to catch up with you and Peter in Lisbon, albeit all too briefly.
Hope all in the Cat family are well.
HH
NATKNOW
Ta muchly
-To all bhoys going to Belfast tomorrow I say, look out for each other. These peepul are poisonous.
8 – 0 to the good guys
KINGLuBO