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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LENNYBHOY on 31ST AUGUST 2018 8:10 PM
Fae Fulham ?
MIKE IN TORONTO on 31ST AUGUST 2018 8:19 PM
So, eventually he goes, we don’t sign anyone and it’s all PL’s fault
Or am I being unkind in thinking that you would construct a narrative like that, what with you being Such a huge fan of the board, as you tell CQN in almost every post
Btw, I’m really looking forward to the game on Sunday. No faint hearts required.
Even Peter Lawwell’s favourite journo is mystified:
Stephen McGowan –
“Does anything sum up Celtic’s transfer window better than scrambling around trying to replace the star striker at half eight on deadline night?”
Players come and players go. Window just creates hysteria.
A straight transfer deal is the only thing that makes sense . The January thing is nonsensical.
Having said that , nothing that’s happened in this transfer window makes any sense.
Moussa can’t possibly leave.
My favourite player.
Scored all those goals against Sevco.
A star.
Done deal, £20 million and £80k a week. Although Benkovic signed, not officially announced as trying to bring in a Striker!
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Celtic asked Dembele if he would stay until January on loan and then make the move to Lyon.
But Dembele rejected Celtic’s proposal and reiterated his demand to be allowed to move now.
why does every other team on the planet get players, in do deals no fuss but ffs celtic cannot do it, please tell me why.hh.
Dembele?
Good riddance.
Ungrateful git.
Has taken the fans for a ride.
Will drive him to Lyon masel
ITALIABHOY on 31ST AUGUST 2018 8:21 PM
I’m not sure how it works to anyone’s benefit, but it might be a case of the least worst outcome given how late this all came and what our options are at this precise minute.
Or it could all be nonsense
Celtic40me
“how all late this came”
Really? You think this is a bolt from the blue for Lawwell? You think he might not have expected, at some point in this window, a bid for someone who is widely regarded as one of the hottest prospects in Europe?
If so, his lack of anticipation that we might get an unwelcome bid is staggering, truly staggering. Especially as the plan was clearly to sell MD at some point.
Where are our back-up targets? Do we have any?
Dear God, PL is making Sevco and their Clown Car operation look like a well-oiled machine.
Italiabhoy, salutations!
A fluster-cuck indeed.
You and I have been around this blog almost since inception. I would say that we both try to be level headed and semi-rational in our comments.
Your view on PL are interesting. I have never once called for his head, but like you I feel the past few months have been at best unprofessional and amateurish at worst. An administrator of an under 10 team could have done better.
Simply put, Celtic need a new CEO.
Mulumbu Press Conference
At least after the double in the centenary year we kept the same team just never strengthened same 1998 and in 08 we actually added Samaras ,Maloney and Crosas. We are constantly being told we are professional in everything we do this is indefensible. People need to go after this and it better not be Brendan.
Pete
A 18? Wow.
Ryan on reading your post said,”Tell your mate Peter that Amsterdam will njoi ma da and me.” :))
Love my bhoy
YNWA
Brendan’s Presser
THE BLOGGER FORMERLY KNOWN AS GM
Yip, like you I have been called a Happy Clapper on many occasions. I have a degree of sympathy for PL,who is certainly a Celtic fan, and I believe the transfer window, and UEFA’s structures in general, work against a club like us.
But he has been in the job for a decade and a half – a long, long time in any senior position. This window has been one mess up after another, and it’s sadly not the first time we have seen these kind of mistakes.
Time for him to make way for some fresh ideas. Also, probably time for DD to move on, or start acting like he is in any way bothered by what happens at Celtic Park.
BOURNESOUPRECIPE on 31ST AUGUST 2018 8:31 PM
The new bhoy comes across very well. Think he’ll be a good’un.
Broonie has to play because he is a fighter.
Moussa leaving just gave the hun a massive boost.
Youssouf will likely be risked because their tails are up and they have beefed up.
The SFA Referees cannae wait to influence things the Establishments way.
Anyone dismissing a Hun team that has negotiated that last tie is wrong. We have spanked them stupid and they don’t need any motivation whatsoever.
Thankfully Brendan is there despite being undermined.
OGLACH you said it was loans or frees and no money spent on players. That’s different from saying net spending is zero.
Also, the VVD cash was January.
KTF
So is Mulumbu hinting at Sevco ad hevsigned for us instead.
If so why are the press not printing that we pipped them to him?
Oh wait agendas and awe that
D. :)
Will Boyata go tonight before the window closes its believed a couple of clubs are sniffing about. Good luck to Dembele 22 million Euros is a fair chunk of money for Celtic. H.H.
The latest, apparently:
DSTM
@CelticUpdates67
Dembele to Lyon is done the option for 6 month loan will be activated if Celtic can’t get replacement tonight currently in discussions with Liverpool, Man City and NAC Breda
does anyone think that if madrid had not applied there option to buy back there x player md would still be a celtic player. just a thought.
DD is a different kettle of fish.
As the major shareholder he calls the shots and will sell up when it suits him.
“We keep saying it but we want to come out every transfer window stronger than we’ve gone in.”
Tick Tock
20.43
? on 31st August 2018 8:36 pm
OGLACH you said it was loans or frees and no money spent on players. That’s different from saying net spending is zero.
Also, the VVD cash was January.
+++
Jan or June no matter it still equates to a grand spend of FECK all this window despite how many freebies you may wish to add. Income circa (since jan) 14 mil spend since jan transfer window 9 mil( yeah right) Nett Outlet spend FECK ALL we have banked money from player sales not spent on incoming FACT
ITALIABHOY on 31ST AUGUST 2018 8:30 PM
Moussa was only going to a bigger club than Celtic, and clearly none had come in for him until a couple of days ago
You can’t line up players on the off chance that a bid comes out of nowhere and expect the selling club to jump to attention and push a quick deal through. Can you imagine another club doing that to us, leaving us with either a player who’s head has been turned and stays at the club or no time to find a decent replacement. It’s a wee bit arrogant to expect other clubs and players to fit in with our plans like that
?: Count me in for breakfast at Coias on Sunday although I may not get there until closer to 10.30.
too many riojas tonight, I surrender.
Big Packy @ 8:26pm – good question.
If I may, I’ll try to answer it.
Not every club in the planet but certainly the top four in Spain, Italy, Germany and France, the top 30 in England and Sevco do business as you describe.
How? Because money is no object.
Just love the transfer window closing drama. We win some, we lose some, we do nothing. That’s life. Get over it.
Heard today from a McGinn, that John was offered more than double the wages from Villa than Celtic were offering. Good luck to the wee Bankie Tim mercenary.
YNWA
Meanwhile, at a secret location in Glasgow, the wee Green Brigade sign painter drops his brush, swears in French, and heads to the pub for an early night…..
Robbie Keane has retired, right ?
It’s like Kelly’s and whites dynasty all over again
No ones bigger than the club some soon realise and fall on their sword others well they ……… If you or I performed as poorly on a regular basis we’d be papped on a training course or just papped,
DD
Don’t blame the lad – money talks