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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tick tock tick tock – zillions of cash in the bank and ????? incoming
TICK TOCK CSC
Larrybhoy on 31st August 2018 11:03 pm
Its just a blog Larry, if anyone with any influence is listening to us, we’re in big trouble.
Larry bhoy
Working together, like the PLC backing Brendan’s decisions in the early to end of the window. When I see evidence that BR is again happy with the boards backing I will once again stand side by side with any Tim. Until then I have to confirm PL is a narcissistic knob!
MWD
Stuck In Charlotte airport because of lighting and the fact Trump is here to,so when lighting stops he gets allowed away first ?
Corkcelt
I’d say his reaction was somewhere between possible and probable
If I was in a job and it was just a job to me eg a short term contract and that boss wouldn’t sign papers to release me even though he was compensated and I was likely going to quadruple my wages, would I be happy…
What time does the fking thing shut?
Can’t wait to see who we just missed out on this time.
Self harm is in our DNA it seems, every 5 years or so, all through my lifetime, we have pissed on our own shoes when we had it all set up for us.
Add this year to the list.
Dembele. Don’t wish him ill, don’t wish him well. Simply don’t care, he doesnt lay for us any more, so have no interest in him at all, good or bad.
We move on – BR has to earn his 45k this week.
If ever there was a window that compounded our failings and underlined the previously hidden issues this was it. Hard harsh realities of playing negotiator and annoyingly massaging failings with ‘getting ahead of the narrative’ have saw fit to bite hard. When the money goes up the stakes go up and those poorly prepared and under resourced and amatuer will be found out. I expect some folk will be awstruck with receiving a figure that will help us achieve another turnover in the region of the expected figure this year. Wages will come down substantially. This June 17 to June 18 will be even more awesome than last if you love number and money rather than the force of will of people and sport.
Go tell the Spartim on 31st August 2018 11:06 pm
Granny or gammy mate, it makes a big difference?
Fool Time Whistle
I want them Beat with Good Fitba
Minty Sine Die
Cheap digs at the manager
Brick walls
Hardball
But, SFA about the real issues.
No mention of the head of recruitment being an abject joke.
No mention of the serious lack of planning for the inevitable loss of MD or potential loss of DB (who will probably sign for someone for feck all in January no doubt)
No mention that our squad lost key players in SA & PR who weren’t replaced.
No mention that our squad desperately needed new, straight into the team players like a right back and central defender.
No mention of the money in the bank that Lawwell & the board wouldn’t spend.
Lawwell’s own version of Pravda.
For God’s sake Neganon don’t chuck it.
Corkcelt
Seriously! If you were offered 10k more to perform the same role at another company at any point in your career never mind 70k a week more tell me you would not jump. Moussa has been top of interested parties every single transfer window since the minute he signed. If anyone and I include Brendan in this did not have the vision or foresight to anticipate an early never mind last minute bid then they have failed in their duties.
End of. Absolutely no excuses. But keep those blinkers on buddy. They certainly work!
MWD
Lay should be play…. although, the mind bogg……nah.
Matt
Cannae understand your incoherent post.
You got a problem with me?
I’m not happy with the transfer window as most is, but you will all remember singing this when we were really f£££ed.
https://youtu.be/SJUhlRoBL8M.
Catch up soon ALMORE. HH
Petec, I don’t always understand you but admire your beliefs. So, you are not allowed to be pee’d off. Sorry, not allowed, so cheer up please.
OOOOOFt
Stevie Clarke statement
Kick in the Haw Maws before Sunday….
HH
Delaneys Dunky on 31st August 2018 11:13 pm
Nothing to do with me but I’m guessing crossed wires. And I;m out.
Criticism of PL is not a result of MD leaving, I’ve forgotten him already. He acts like he’s the owner but remember it’s your money and mine he’s stockpiling for this mythical rainy day
He has previous for ballsing up transfer windows
Happy clappers need not put down their brandy to reply they are as culpable as he is
This window is getting to everyone.Hurry up Sunday ???
Jumpin’ Jack Frost spun Tunes
Junglism is in the place.
Quality Jam & Spoons bach in the olde day.
I’m hoping the BHOYS really turn it on … Sunday.
Olivier is getting more and more menacing with Every shot.
A Hattrick for him, I know I’m getting carried away.
I don’t like the Daily Record, so I don’t go on their site to read their football slant.
Likewise with the Herald, or Follow Follow or the Sevco site.
So why do people come on CQN and post malicicious unsubstantiated dross about the author of this site?
Have a differing opinion. Make it constructive. Make it polite.
DD
No problem but I cant understand why an articulate intelligent man likeyou thinks that ‘reb’ celebration or knowing ‘Mcginn’s” family is something that matters.
You call them important.
I don’t….on a Celtic site.
Hail hail
Matt
Gorbalstam
Granny and not gammy nor Grammy
Fat finger typing, predictive text and tired eyes ?
jimthetim53 on 31st August 2018 11:15 pm
Petec, I don’t always understand you but admire your beliefs. So, you are not allowed to be pee’d off. Sorry, not allowed, so cheer up please.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
I’m the LUCKIEST dude ever – Sorry for being not Happy. :)))
The SFA, not fit for purpose, need more of this.
https://youtu.be/cftKew752tU
For the English language teachers.
POLITELY.
what is the stevie clarke statement ?
Gorbalstam
Hope you are right.
Hate falling out wi Tims.
YNWA
Well…..no point sitting up any longer to find out if we’ve signed an oven ready striker or RB . Hope it will all work out and above all, hope Brendan doesn’t follow Lenny out the door.
Night CQN
Moonbeams, Of course he would be gutted like Boyata was.
However even though Boyata initially sulked he came to his senses and is back playing particularly well.
Dembele had a signed contract with us and we were paying him good money. His career blossomed under Brendan’s stewardship.
Yet he threw a high profile hissy fit including calling Brendan a Liar.
Yes he got what he wanted but it does not reflect well on him.
Anyhow Dembele is just a memory for me, my only interest is on lads who want to play for the team.
With that I’ll bid you and the Blog, Good Night & God Bless.
Matt
Don’t know what you mean?
Glad I have never met you.
You are not my type. ?
SFA cant charge Clarke for bringing the game into disrepute because they didn’t charge Gerrard for his comments after the Aberdeen game. Game is a mess because the SFA pander to the Huns.
Go tell the Spartim on 31st August 2018 11:22 pm
Glad to hear it, it;s a family site (I really don’t know how to do smileys).
Has anyone sourced a statement from our CEO about how successful this transfer window has been?
Just asking.
What is a football contract worth? Seemingly feck all if the player wants to leave apart from the club holding the contract trying to get as much as possible prior to his leaving. Seems that ‘no sorry your going nowhere we need you and you still have 2 years left on your £25k a week deal left’ doesn’t work. So he then throws a hissy tells the world of his problems and does everything in the book to wangle a move. However if the same player suffers a long term injury he still expects the club to honour his £25k a week remaining 2 year deal?
Where is our Friday night hero ? Roycroppiecsc
vale bhoy on 31st August 2018 11:29 pm
“We just couldn’t get it over the line”
“The quality just wasn’t available”
“Didn’t want squad fillers”
Fear not gullible Celtic supporters.
The Celtic board are only hoarding money till January in order to fund a MASSIVE bid to tempt Willo Flood out of retirement.