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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OGLACH I don’t dispute the fact that net spend is on the low end but with signing on fees, loan fees, extra wages and £9m for French Eddie we have spent several million if you subtract the Armstrong £7m. Loans don’t come free. Id imagine net spend to be in excess of £5m.
Bringing the VVD money in is wrong as you are just using it to skew your argument.
KTF
Its a short career that could end through injury at any moment.
Unlike blogging
If ever this omnishambles of a transfer window needed a final act.
9.00pm on the last day we scramble about looking for a replacement for our star player.
Really heads should roll, an injury to Griff or Edward and we are F****d
Almore see you then!
KTF
CELTIC40ME on 31ST AUGUST 2018 8:44 PM
Don’t expect the fans to accept your rational analysis.
They want £20M in and £20M out in the very next email, with the new striker already waiting
at the Celtic way having completed a medical before Moussa finished tweeting
As a wee diversion from whit may or may not be occurring at Celtic Park heres a wee diversion.
If youse urnae interested then let me know…I’ll stop
I love Scotland and Scottish football….an anathema to many on here who are entitled to their view……here’s a wee tale of last saturday at Hampden….to be continued SOMEWHERE the morra.
http://alturl.com/doc5k
Hail hail
Matt
Lads does anyone know if the Ticket office opens on Saturday..when there is no game.
As in this weekend, ticket office is open Sunday from 9 to kick off ..but is it open tomorrow
So who has googled, Liverpool, man city and NEC Bredas squads ?
Have we signed anyone in the past hour?
Why not?
Get the finger out Celtic.
A need a fix.
Sign somebody!!!!!!
Wits
Open from 9-2 tomorrow
Vfr
Skewing your argument with the £9m for Odsonne? Works both ways
Apologies for interrupting your discussion
No offence intended
Gene
I have watched John McGinn play fitba in Clydebank wi my nephew since he was 11. He stuck out a mile. I loved seeing his Mum, dad, twin sister and two older brothers, travel on the train from Dalmuir to Celtic Park every second Saturday.
Scunnered he has missed his dream move for money.
YNWA
Back to Basics – Glass Half Full on 31st August 2018 8:46 pm
Big Packy @ 8:26pm – good question.
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.
——————
Spurs signed no one
And Man U (the richest club in the world) had a disaster of a window
https://twitter.com/celticfctickets/status/1035588667526537217?s=21
DD,
I’m sure you & Ryan will have a Rocking good Time. Brilliant you are both having Good Times.
The last Time I Lost Aidan and his Mum @ the Roses concert. I went to go in closer for a song.
I came back out to where I thought they were. The Nutters had went all the way to the front. And it was well busy that night.
Jungle busy @ the front. We always tried to get to the Centre of the Jungle. Thats why The Maestro is the Greatest ever for me. Its what you Witness.
Quality.
Good business if we got £millions
David17
Thank you. Thats great news.
Celtic40me,
We should have a contingency plan – a strike leaves or is injured and our scouts should be able to come up with 4 or 5 realistic options to replace.
Why are you so keen to excuse utter incompetence?
The Maestro
I’m not one to reminisce but he WAS a player
The Huddle – good call. Two exceptions (for different reasons) to the madness that is English football.
Yesterday it was £22mill min now a done deal at a reported £18mill ???
GO TELL THE SPARTIM on 31ST AUGUST 2018 9:00 PM
How so? We signed French Eddie in this window.
KTF
CELTIC40ME – Well said.
The more that you want it.
Emilio has been a very welcome re-addition, IMO.
so who will be our strikeforce upfront.
just hope all this shenanigans isn’t affecting the rest of the squad – maybe a bit of a siege mentality won’t go amiss
Glendalys @ 8.35
Just listened to it there, he sounds way too intelligent for your average footballer.
Not for £9m well according to BR though that quote may or may not be true
ZIGGYDOC1-8:20pm.its not players that want to play for us we need, ( although that’s a good thing to)its players that are good enough to play for us,and not projects or Man City development players.???
oh what would you give for a Jorge cadette upfront on sunday.
BIG Packy1 – Leigh, Odsonne and the new guy
If he has gone FECK him, he left us with a problem with n0 time to resolve despite having a long term contract.
Soon forgotten – Moussa ‘Who’ – GTF with your meaningless platitudes. You’ll not be remembered – you will always walk alone ya prick
there is a van hooijdonk playing for nec breda
20 mil is a massive punt on a guy with dodgy hamstrings who hasn’t been properly fit for over a year.
LYON 0 – Nice 1 (72 mins.)
Looks like Lyon could be doing with a striker. :)
See Jonathan Gould is on the boro coaching staff
I think Brendan handled that press conference very well.
Any views on the best ever and worst ever deadline day Celtic signings?
I’m thinking Armstrong might be up there among the best, can’t see past Scepovic and Mo Bangura as the worst.
Think the moral of the story is that generally the guys you sign early in the window tend to work out best (e.g.hooper, ledley, wanyama, van dijk, dembele) whereas the last minute buys tend to be more miss than hit.