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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For Moussa –
Pros – Going home to France, quadrupling his wages, playing in the Champions League, raising his profile to get international recognition.
Cons – Miss getting kicked up in air on Sunday and being cheated by Gollum
WHAT IS HE THINKING ABOUT !!!
Delaneys Dunky on 31st August 2018 10:39 pm
Oglach
Neganon is a good Unrepentant Drumchapel Fenian. Like me, he grew up in a Glasgow Protestant housing scheme.
Like I had to, I bet he learnt to fight for his survival.
Gonnae stop attacking good Tims like Neganon please
====
Hope that is tounge in cheek
GT @ 10.27
Top post — thanks for calling out all the board acolytes, PL astroturf and the middle management spreadsheet junkies.
Things are bad but we have been in worse.
The squad is a bit bloated and lacking in leadership and confidence but we have some talent and hopefully the heart and soul will follow.
http://www.celticfc.net/news/14881
Good statement from the club.
Michael Stewart on twitter asking ‘What changed since last night?” He must’ve been napping for the last 12 hours.
What changed since yesterday when Celtic rejected the Lyon offer was the public slagging of the manager as a man with no integrity by one of his own players who still had 2 years left on his contract at the club.
BR would have had a very quick call with PL, told him that his working relationship MD had irretrievably broken down & to get Lyon and his agent back on the phone.
Have to say that Chris Sutton’s intervention to specifically name Brendan Rodgers made things much worse, but then the new Lyon player actually endorsed Sutton’s tweet by liking it.
Truth is that the man who has acted with no honour or integrity in this is Moussa Dembele.
My son has just made the same comment that I’ve seen on here..
Moussa only showed uo for the glamour games, against Sevco or in the ECL. Spent a lot of time nursing his hammies or playing at 70% in non-glamour games. We all knew this and accepted that if he horsed Sevco at every opportunity – it was worth it.
To leave like this is a bridge burning exercise for this player & I can only commend Brendan Rodgers for the patience he must have had to use with this player previously.
His leaving is an opportunity for someone else & his toxic influence will not be missed.
Prima Donna Sux CSC
So assuming griff and eduard can stay fit, and that is an if, there’s going to be at least 9-10 weekends or about 1 – in 2 weekends when what our starting strikers are sinclair and Johnstone…. Not sure that promises us being clear and free / competing come Jan….
Oglach on 31st August 2018 10:45 pm
Delaneys Dunky on 31st August 2018 10:39 pm
Oglach
Neganon is a good Unrepentant Drumchapel Fenian. Like me, he grew up in a Glasgow Protestant housing scheme.
Like I had to, I bet he learnt to fight for his survival.
Gonnae stop attacking good Tims like Neganon please
====
I was actually defending him and asking him not to flounce.
BizzareCSC
Moonbeamswd on 31st August 2018 10:44 pm
Can’t seem to do the smileys, but that raised a chuckle.
You would think that the huns would be rather urinated off we’ve brought in merr money for a sick note that didnae exactly set the heather on fire at Craven Cottage and who Spurs changed their mind about and only got his first start after wee Leigh was injured.
But naw in their small minds they come on here and have a dig at our club instead of worrying about theirs probably going tae the wall again.
If the truth be told they are scheidting themselves about Sunday.
WITS, DD are you coming for breakfast on Sunday? Anyone else fancy it?
KTF
Fool Time Whistle – Spot on
Are we looking at free agents yet?
PVH
Cadette
Di Canio
even the bold Macca
Behaved a lot worse than MD has.
the war is over, the happyclappers have won.
CQN needs Neg2 and vice versa.
DANDAN
The Waiting list happened because the Celtic Board showed Ambition.
The Celtic Board have, IMO, Pee’d on the fact we now have a waiting List.
Brendan will Leave very soon IMO, I’m hopefully wrong.
The Idea of Paul67 lining up Neil to replace Brendan shows a lack of REAL respect.
To Every Celtic Supporter.
“We keep saying it but we want to come out every transfer window stronger than we’ve gone in.”
Tick Tock
22.51
I take it that the Celtic Park brand spanking new lights been turned off for the night.
PINTAGUINNESS-thanks for the heads up,is that the one that had all the gaming machines in ?Up off the main drag or the wee one the opposite side off road ???
That’s the hotel and museum paid for!!!!! On a serious note to Lennyboy- any chance of anyone coming in tonight?? I was thinking Solanke of Liverpool????
Matt
By sooside I mean anything south of the Clyde.
You know that
I was in the Stanley Bar today from 2 today.
Why are you acting like an arsehole?
Who am I trying to impress?
Certainly not you ya clown.
Moussa is gone. Very good player, a bit injury prone & a bit hit & miss. When he was in the mood he was brilliant & yes we will miss him.
You can blame Brendan & the Board for lack of foresight but they refused Boyata bid & refused Dembele bid.
So to say it’s all about making a quick buck doesn’t stand up.
Dembele’s actions forced the move & that can’t be blamed on Brendan or anyone else at Celtic Park.
Unlike Neg may I say that nothing has changed for me regarding Celtic.
If Benkovic is a success we will be fine. We will still have eleven men on the field & if we cut out giving away silly goals we will win the vast majority of our games.
Gorbalstam.
Not many chuckles here this last year!
Only kiddin. I know exactly what you mean but I’m a complete basa so couldn’t resist.
MWD
Ps always agree and disagree with Neganons positivity in equal parts with his every post 50/50.
Vfr
I dont think i will make it to Coias for Sunday. But if things change I will text you
Sipsini: hope to see you on Sunday. Owe you a beer or three.
The statement was clever in that it took the opportunity to put forward a united front between Manager and Board. Brendan has the opportunity to do likewise in the dressing room, he can unite the players, remind them of their responsibilities to the Club and draw a line under a difficult summer.
When can we expect the article explaining how we stopped playing hardball when Lyon met our valuation?
Corkcelt.
I’m pretty sure Brendan’s defiance to any bid so late in the day is/was 100% honest. But Peter the fandango, Na no way. He views it as an adequate alternative to raise the cash the club failed to raise by missing qualification to CL. Without Moussa sale just imagine the drop in bonus as per contract.
Please get Tae Fork Peter. Your a prick!
MWD
MARKIEBHOY on 31ST AUGUST 2018 10:45 PM
LOL
We only wanted quality…. A comment sealed in a vacuum…at least we have the January window to look forward to should Rangers make headway.
YNBTI
corkcelt on 31st August 2018 10:54 pm
If we’re saying on the one hand hat we’re doing good business by reacting to the market,, it seems to me that on the other, we’re failing in our contingency planning. I fear that our attitude is becoming hun like in the fact that we are believing that the lord of the manor always knows what’s best for us.
Christmas DVD
Best seller, Why I did not back the manager! Because Phil said I’d lost control of signings to Brendan I had to show I was a bigger dick than you first thought. Gullible numpties.
MWD canny wait to see it
This is when you realise what the Club is made of, getting slagged all round, and some many waiting to see us fail… come on guys, lets get working together… everybody… and see off this “crisis”
HH
Oglach
Sorry pal.
Read you wrong.
Forza Neganon.
A man who stands up for his beliefs.
Drumchapel Fenian Fighter.
FOOL TIME WHISTLE on 31ST AUGUST 2018 10:45 PM
Well said. MD exhibited little class as he attacked a Manager who had put him in the spotlight.
No way he could stay nor would I have wanted him too.
DD
Obviously not trying to impress me…just anyone that thought you knew feck all about McGinn Signing.
Dick.
Hail hail
Matt
Moonbeams that is pure conjecture.
Next you will be telling us that Pedro was behind the Dembele Tweets.
Nobody could have anticipated Dembele’s reaction.
If he hadn’t reacted as he did he would still be a Celtic player.
VP That’s very public spirited of you. Hh
Hotel ?
No one wants to touch it apparently from those that the tender has gone out to
Only what I’ve heard from the construction worlds equivalent to Owen coyles Grammy