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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GG
Whilst defunding trumps action on the unborn – the motives behind these actions can be discussed at length – do you ever consider, just for one fcking second, how he treats people who have actually been born and are ALIVE?
Myopic much.
nice one!!
Sold our top striker, after BR tells us that he is going nowhere as we can’t get a new striker in quick enough to replace him.
Lets hope we beat the huns as its the only thing that will save the fans exploding.
I would reckon that BR is sitting at home with a stiff drink writing out his resignation letter the board (balance sheet) just now
What an excellent widow for us. Can someone check that Dave King hasn’t been wearing a PL mask for this window? Because if you asked a Sevco fan to write a script for our window, it wouldn’t have been any worse than this (maybe Brendan leaving?).
Don’t worry, I’m sure when Stevie G is holding a trophy above his head we will have some on here making reference to our great accounts. We are such a well run club after all.
We talk about Sevco fans being gullible but there are some on here that are just the other side of the coin.
Sickening window.
Tictaewin SB
Sorry naw.
Frankie Miller is my favourite Glaswegian chanter.
YNWA
Fairhill Bhoy 11:36
If you are stuck at that airport….
Indulge yourself in one of those enjoyable white rocking chairs in the departure lounge.
Might be just the ticket in 10 minutes. :0).
Just popped in to see reactions to the old Windsor slamming shut…. very emotive tonight.
A windae into the past if you like. Can remember arguments and disrespect in the past but the personal abuse dished out is at a new level. Still we have witnessed this and specific times over the years… cashing in on players to the detriment of the manager.
Anyways….Some think it’s a train wreck, some think it’s a success. Truth of matter is it will only be known by the end of the season. I trust in BR, but he is fighting on all fronts right now, some a little close to home. If anyone can galvanize the squad, he will.
Some want an old out of date product called The OF, the investors, the media, the TV contracts. Many definitions of success….
KTF in Brendan and the team on the park.
Divided is conquered and what many others desire.
Roll on Sunday.
@ LENNYBHOY on 31ST AUGUST 2018 11:56 PM
Thanks for the valued updates.
And as you say, we are Celtic supporters, not board supporters. Too many on here conflate the two and think that criticising one means a lack of affection for the other. Until they are disabused of such a view, the board will continue to treat the fans with contempt.
come on to feck bhoys 30 secs left keep the faith
No real surprises as Celtic continue with recent transfer activity.
Sell a player late and claim they tried to find replacement but ran out of time.
Our board are incredibly consistent in shafting the Celtic support.
Leopards don’t change their spots.
Ryan was excellent when he came on.
Izzy was Magical.
The Celts have played WAY WAY too many games to just be able to turn it on.
I know Celtic are a very Well Run Club.
Dinnae shatter the Dreams like this Transfer Window.
It is obvious the affluence @ Celtic Park. That is NOT the Real story.
Fairhill Bhoy
A good political spin master would say he was doing you a favour saving you from dangerous thunderstorms, dodgy takeoffs and heavy turbulence.
Peter Capaldi CSC
Lennybhoy All the best mate. Hh
PETEC – 11:41 PM
“macjay1 – Everyone lambasted Trump – Trump has done All he could to protect the Unborn.”
Indeed, maybe now he’ll do All he can to bring in gun control measures to protect the Born though somehow I doubt it.
Phew think we managed to keep Marvin Compper,,,,,
The support are not happy with this window and rightly so. However before bed, i will leave with this, at some point we will probably need Forrest and Sinclair to play as a false 9. Meaning Mikey Johnston has a big chance these next 4 months, Brendan has shown massive faith in him and will again, i believe he will come good. Similarly i think Benkovic, Boyata and Ajer will form one hell of a back 3.
The Hunskelper is gone Long live the Hunskelper.
GORBALSTAM-chill,I got deleted the other night because someone called me a jakey,it happens mate???
Good night all.
Hopefully the paperwork was sent across seven minutes ago and we hear about it in the morning.
Hail hail
GG- to be fair it was horrible weather and now we have a plane but our crew are on their way from Colombo ???
THE HANDS CANT HIT WHAT THE EYES CANT SEE on 31ST AUGUST 2018 11:59 PM
@ LENNYBHOY on 31ST AUGUST 2018 11:56 PM
And as you say, we are Celtic supporters, not board supporters. Too many on here conflate the two and think that criticising one means a lack of affection for the other.
===========================
The opposite is also true – too many see affection for (and attendance at games to support) one as support for the other.
HH
BGFC
And yet again the Celtic board deliver a massive painful boot to the baws of all ‘TRUE’ fans.
Denuded our team of quality. Brought in freebies and a couple of loans whilst pulling in tens of millions in transfer fees and reduced wage bills.
How do ya like those coconuts bhoys? Seems the Negonistas were right after all.
Never mind we will sell Boyata and Ntcham in Jan and replace them with a couple more Man C loans and still pretend all is well.
Anyone seen the plans for the new hotel ?
Macjay back in before the window closed.
Through A Green Glass Brightly,
KT Wonderful
On Gun Stuff, we are gonnae have to disagree.
Well, that seemed to go well.
Now we can look forward to that shower of neanderthals, at the top of the Upper deck of the Jock Stein stand, banging on, for the entire game, about the IRA.
What a start to the season.
Night Night.
Hope they still blast out Zombie Nation on Sunday
Eff them, Eff them in the ear
Up the Celts
Au revoir Moussa, you scored some cracking goals but I fear your lasting legacy will be all the applicants who will want to change the name of their pet cat, dog, mouse or moose by deed poll.
Evening all
Can’t believe there are posters defending Dembele who basically threw his toys out if the pram. BR if he wanted him to stay would not have made the statement that was printed if he didn’t have the final say.
Some on this blog really need to wake up and smell the coffee, these guys unless they are supporters like us don’t give a f***.
I don’t wish him well as he has demeaned my club.
KTF
MULLET AND CO 2 on 31ST AUGUST 2018 10:32 PM
Bricks & mortar is reliable, unlike players.
Trump could not give a donald duck about the unborn.
He is just pandering to the right wing Christian hypocrites who keep him in power.
The NRA purveyors of death for profit are lauded by him.
He has shown nothing but disdain for human rights.
Ah well, remember the good old days when there was nae windaes (auto correct goes to nae Windsor’s) why not just play the cards we are dealt some of the guff on these pages read like punters who have never saw Celtic lose and some who would have enjoyed Sudova get a wee 1-0 victory last night …. roll on Sunday when the bhoys like KT, Broony & the Griff want to wear the hoops, appreciate what we have and let the others leave if they don’t want to be there ?
BOURNESOUPRECIPE on 1ST SEPTEMBER 2018 12:09 AM
:-)
Your wit and sense of humour are one of the reasons .
vale bhoy on 1st September 2018 12:11 am
Well, that seemed to go well.
Now we can look forward to that shower of neanderthals, at the top of the Upper deck of the Jock Stein stand, banging on, for the entire game, about the IRA.
What a start to the season.
Night Night.
…………………………………………………………………………………
Hold on a wee minute…..
FOOL TIME WHISTLE on 31ST AUGUST 2018 10:45 PM
I don’t recognise your sign in name, but your analysis is, for me, spot on.
It is getting to late to say what I really think about some of the ridiculous comments from the usual anti Celtic posters.
Well the windae’s shut.
It was a crap windae but it’s shut noo.
We can shut up about it for another 4 months and then we can re-inforce each other’s angst again.
Whoopee!
£20,000,000 for a player we bought 2 years ago for £500,000 with a dodgy hamstring is not the worst deal ever. We’ve sold better players for a lot less money.
So that’s it over DG.
To be positive (don’t want to get into all the stuff at the moment) I’m very happy to see Izzy back. And I can’t wait to see Youssouf and Filip strut their stuff at Celtic. 3 good players I think.
Gorbalstam
Macjay ?
I will call him a great Celtic fan, you shouldn’t be deleted for being ignorant … you just have to live with it :-)
GG
Naebiddy in Glesca better at singing than Frankie Miller.
YNWA
vale bhoy on 1st September 2018 12:11 am
Well, that seemed to go well.
Now we can look forward to that shower of neanderthals, at the top of the Upper deck of the Jock Stein stand, banging on, for the entire game, about the IRA.
===
Neanderthals you mean Celtic fans you cretin. I hope they serenade you all season with the entire Reb song book – just for you