I heard earlier this transfer window that the club didn’t expect an offer for Moussa Dembele. There was interest a year ago, but a year of injury, then a fresh injury at the start of this season, convinced all that the player would be with us until January, at least.
When Real Madrid invoked a buy-out clause for Lyon striker Mariano on Wednesday, the French club were prepared to throw a lot of money around to buy a replacement, and their primary target was Moussa Dembele.
There are millions of euros at play here. Agent fees alone would be in seven figures, while the contract available for the player would dwarf anything Celtic pay. In addition, they were prepare to offer Celtic a lot of money. So what do you do?
Celtic were not planning to sell Moussa Dembele, just as they were not planning to sell Kieran Tierney in July. The club gave very clear messages to Lyon that they would not entertain a bid. Note Lyon president, Jean-Michel Aulas’ comments “I know the boss at Celtic well. He is basically like a bulldog who negotiates after yapping.”
The assumption in Lyon was that after Peter Lawwell’s “yapping” there would be some negotiation. Lyon expected Celtic to roll over, but Celtic did not bite.
The choice was to pocket the money without buying a direct replacement (as it was too late), or reject the offer. The sale was not even considered, by the manager or board. As we saw three weeks ago with Boyata, Celtic do not need the money, what they need is talented footballers.
It was right to reject the offer. Not just because we need players more than money, but because if we fold under player pressure, we will only encourage more ‘sore back/not the right frame of mind’ scenarios when contracted players are tapped up during a qualification campaign.
The football business is incredibly unstable. We contract players, who, if they succeed, will soon be able to earn millions of pounds per year more than we will ever pay them. You either sell when the big offers come, or turn your face to stone and sell when you are ready.
I don’t know if playing hardball this month will stop this happening again, but folding would guarantee tantrums every time a player receives an 80€/week offer. We could be sitting this morning with all the money in the world, but a little light up front. That’s not the plan and never has been.
The first piece of business today was the signing of central mid, Youssouf Mulumbu. Youssouf’s career came off the rails when he broke his metatarsal weeks after joining Norwich three years ago, but a cameo half season at Kilmarnock convinced Brendan Rodgers to move. Welcome to Celtic, Youssouf.
Let’s get Filip Benkovic signed up, and spank Newco back into their dystopian existence on Sunday. Oh, and Malmo and Sarpsborg would do nicely in the Europa.
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Which Moussa will we remember then ?
Goalscoring hunskelper supreme or petted lipped ungrateful shitebag ?
The hardball has gone soft….
JOBO
Get your retaliation in first ?
31/07/18
DJ on SSB
“I was up at the Hummel training centre during the week and the amount of 6fters was good too see” comedy gold from a person who actually played professional fitba
Roll on Sunday
Eh, when I said we should auction him to daft, more money than sense EPL clubs, I actually meant take the money from Lyon and run.
Delaneys Dunky on 31st August 2018 7:16 pm
Oglach
You are correct.
But please stop lowering yourself to his level ;)))
===
One more please –
What sort of football club name is Lyon anyway….
pffftttt………
Delaneys Dunky on 31st August 2018 7:16 pm
Oglach
You are correct.
But please stop lowering yourself to his level ;)))
=====
I smell HUN
Big Wavy
Dembolition Derby will remind me of Moussa.
God bless the big Hunskelper.
YNWA
Que sera sera, players come and go but we always seem to find a way of making things harder than they should be.
I’ll tell you this though, Sunday is gonna be so sweet when we put the filth back in their box.
Gonna Miss this song
BBC…………… tweet Moussa Dembele’s goals
StillHurtingSoBadly CSC
Delaneys Dunky
True that. Life’s too short for the choice of hating the big man.
Looking forward to the next hero in hoops.
who said Dembele has left the building?
CELTIC are ready to sell Moussa Dembele to Lyon before the transfer window shuts tonight – if the striker is loaned back to the Hoops until January.
I was very impressed with the performance of Christie last night, albeit for a very short time. Would really like to see him get some game time, as it looks like he’s staying. Sevco fans feeling very confident now. Let’s burst their bubble.
Great Europa draw that gives us a good chance to progress. It’ll be a tight group. Utter pish being talked by anyone talking about lack of glamour ties. Let’s get some wins, build momentum and improve our coefficient.
Catman
away as in sold?? if so we simply have to have another option upfront brought in…we cannoy rely on two injury prone strikers in the griff and eddy..
If you Bhoys are correct and Dembele has indeed been sold does that mean it pays to shout your mouth off and give the manager and the chief exec, stick on twitter.If that is the case Big Boyata must be re-thinking his strategy. H.H.
VFR….. what do we do if he is sold today, but is loaned back until January? both sort of right, but both sort of wrong…
If that happens, I say we both kick in the 25 quid to MM.
Fair enough?
Ziggydoc1 7.32pm
Enough of that sensible posting
Totally agree :-)
Is Kouassi away and is Benkovic signed?
Well worth £49
JFH …
If that is all it takes to get what you want, I’m off to set up a twitter account, and insist that I get Elle MacPherson…
Once the transfer window shuts, I’ll let you know how it turned out ….
Oglach the Janny
D. :)
OGLACH on 31ST AUGUST 2018 7:31 PM
who said Dembele has left the building?
—
The Janny
D. :)
If the sale with loan back till January is true the it makes a lot of sense. Keeps the player happy and playing. Gives them their man and us time to prepare since we clearly didn’t do it before.
But I don’t see a multi million pound deal or purchase being risked of injury like that.
David66 on 31st August 2018 7:40 pm
OGLACH on 31ST AUGUST 2018 7:31 PM
who said Dembele has left the building?
—
The Janny
D. :)
====
Two Jannies, well it must be true then.
Porto signed saidy janko in June. They’ve just sent him on a season long loan to Nottingham forest.
Remember the good old days where clubs signed players simply to strengthen their team, not to immediately punt on loan elsewhere or with a view of selling at a huge profit 2 years down the line.
Heard on the Radio earlier if Celtic were to reach the final of this European cup we would need to have played 23 games! I think we would need a huge squad.
One can but hope.
Would KEV pay a Janny £49
I realize that we would be short of strikers if MD goes, no perhaps needs must …
but I’m not crazy about the sign and loan back idea….
MD would know his future isn’t with us… and that he is going somewhere else no matter what happens for the next few months … most players would not give 100% in that situation, in case they pick up an injury … and, to be fair, it would be hard for any player in that situation to be 100% motivated and focussed…
Scunnered…this is what we all dreaded..the last minute cash grab by the board…looks like its happening…we simply must have another player brought in tonight….
Stirlingbhoy
I am more concerned about the position of BR , I hope if this is true he is in total agreement and is not finished at Celtic because of this.
Oglach it was so funny I had to say it twice.
I know it’s pash mate, my attempt at humour.
D. :)
MIT
MD would know his future isn’t with us
To be fair that’s been the situation since the first day. It’s now crystallised. I think it would work and for a variety of reasons he’d be great for us until then.
mike in toronto on 31st August 2018 7:39 pm
JFH …
If that is all it takes to get what you want, I’m off to set up a twitter account, and insist that I get Elle MacPherson
Once the transfer window shuts, I’ll let you know how it turned out ….
======
Any chance I can get Dita Von Teese, if so no more posts on needing CB of DF – too busy with Dita (making cups of coffee etc )
BadmusicforbadpeopleCSC
MIKE IN TORONTO, STOP TALKING SUCH FECKIN SENSE.HH.
As you know, I’m not one for over reaction,BUT, if Moussa goes I think Scotland should declare war on France.
Wee smiley onion thingy
KINGLuBO