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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Turkeybhoy,
Brendan Rodgers may have been given £30m to spend but at least £20m has been brought in. At least!
The wage bill has gone from £30 odd M to £50 odd though and that is in part due to Rodgers own salary.
Now that Frexit is underway the wage bill should come down.
Anyone know if ticket Office is open tomorrow
I know it opens Monday to Friday and match days
@ TURKEYBHOY on 31ST AUGUST 2018 3:15 PM
Accounts for the first year don’t support that view. We will see if the new accounts confirm the position.
If the new centre half is for the off after 12 months we will be back to you can’t integrate new players into the system in the short time available before qualifiers…..
Sitting in Vegas airport waiting on flight to Orlando,I watched Celtic in a big sports bar last time but would prefer to watch Sundays game in amongst Celtic fans.It doesn’t have to be anything special,us ‘jakeys’ Will drink any where ???
The Hands,
I can only see Olympuque Lyonnaise Turnover as £250m including player sales in 16/17
@ MULLET AND CO 2 on 31ST AUGUST 2018 3:26 PM
Mullet, I grabbed mine from this link: https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/905939/richest-football-clubs-Europe-UEFA-money-sportgalleries
Not a direct source, but believe quoting from UEFA’s report on top 30 clubs in Europe by turnover for financial year 16/17.
Well played paul67 (not sarcastically) !
Favourite Uncle or Yorkbhoy on ?
Do you ever come across the Irish Association in York – I need some advice. I am being treated significantly different to others in work: I’ve got documentary evidence and witness accounts and it’s not ok. A good while ago I contacted The Irish Post who put me onto the then Federation of Irish Societies (now ;the ‘irishinbritiain’ organisation) about some unwanted comments I was receiving – they were experts !
I am going to contact my own union but in my gut I feel I need someone who knows the Irish experience (mostly wonderful, I’ve been lucky enough to be here after the trailblazing of the glorious navvies and those who suffered the shi* of the 70s).
Anyway, if you happen to know if this is or isn’t the thing of the York Irish Association, I would be very grateful for any thoughts on the matter.
Come on the fu*^in hoops!
Celtic40me
I seem to recall seeing one of the Salzburg-Lazio games. Think there was a flurry of late goals.
Think it will be close between ourselves, Salzburg and Leipzig. Although I would expect Rosenborg to pick up a few points too.
They must have a decent recruitment system at Salzburg. Lose a lot of players (some to Leipzig) but never seem to be weaker the next season.
.
I disagree with all those who disagree with others on this site.
I myself have always been a disagreeable type.
Cant fathom out why we just dont let Moussa go.He is now not in the team,again,for Sundays important game.How many important games has he missed.We are setting a precedent here.Everyone knows our policy.If we can sign cheap,keep for a couple of seasons,then sell for huge profit,everyone is happy.Maybe not us,but we know,or should our standing in Europe.This could reverberate.
Anyway,why would anyone want to keep an unhappy player?Is this the 1st time its happened to Brendan?.He is making a pigs ear of this as he did with Boyata.If he takes a closer look,nearer to home,he should be asking that numpty Congerton why he has no available targets..Amateur hour.
OK, seeing as Dembele has effectively ruled himself out of the Sevco game on Sunday (and last night) will he get the same treatment from the fans that Boyata did? Will there be another Jersey banner?
KTF
Turkbhoy – that’s it for me – Congerton seems to have been taken completely by surprise cos an offer came in during the transfer window for our biggest talent. It’s inexcusable really.
THE HANDS CANT HIT.
Oh FFS give it a rest.You saw my list.Did we ,or did we not buy these players?Did we,or did we not pay these fees for them?All were widly accepted to be correct.How did these guys come to be playing for Celtic?Did people donate them to us.?
The players are there,the prices are there,bought since Brendan took over.How the hell can you sit there and deny it.If thats what Board hating does to you,I am glad I am ambivalent to Boards,but keen on facts.
TURKEYBHOY
Wasn’t there scenes of wild celebration by the fans when Conga Town left Sunderland??
I think I agree fanatic!
Chavez,
I’m not buying the we didn’t expect a bid for a Dembele this window BS. We should have extensive scouting reports on hundreds of players in every position.
How many hours does it take to convert reports to targets? With the value of these transfers in and out we surely have a team of folk on this activity around the clock?
@ TURKEYBHOY on 31ST AUGUST 2018 4:05 PM
Of course I accept we bought these players, but what is stated in the media is not always accurate, as you know.
The accounts for BR’s first season show he spent £7m and £5.2m net. I just don’t see the numbers adding up for the second season that he spent nearly £23m based on these figures. The majority of that figure is attributable to Edouard in any event and I doubt that the £9m figures is up front as opposed to cumulative.
CHAVEZ,
I have been banging on about this,but the narrow minded ,just wont see it.
Where was
his list of CHs.
In case someone came in for Dembele,where was his list of strikers?
For CHs,see Commper,Mc Kenna.
For strikers see,erm,nobody.
Fekin disgraceful,but the sheep with the easy target of PL,just keep on uttering their malice,and missing out the real culprits.How that helps I have no idea,but they seem happy.
wis it no just a week or so ago that the Hounorable James told the blog he would be posting no more?
smiley or was that another joiner thing
Braw
Mullet And Co 2 – absolutely. I know from a mate of mine that the scouting database they have is pretty impressive but our dealings at the moment are shambolic. Congerton’s last two jobs before us were Sunderland and Hamburg. Is that an indication of his abilities? It’s a scary thought.
VFR@4-00pm
Why turn it on the fans when all the culprits of this fiasco are either owners or employees of the club?
The Boyata situation which may have caused a champions league place so real Celtic fans showed they were upset.I don’t think it was a good idea to put up the banner but i understand their frustration.
We have a chief scout who appears not to be up to the job.
A board who place the football team second to profit.
A medical staff who have shown no clue to our continuous injury problems.
A psychologist who see’s no problem with severe mental fragility.
A coach who seems unprepared on the transfer situation.
A reactionary club on all football matters.
But lets just have a dig at a few misguided fans with a banner.
There are literally (and sadly for the players themselves) hundreds of cast-offs from the human industrial fishing industry that is modern European Football.
While at Everton, David Moyes had them catalogued (on paper) to great effect.
If…..if our recruitment process was fit for purpose we should be able to accept a late bid for a wantaway brat and be able to replace him at short notice.
The more so given the earlier closing of the English window. Amateurish.
HH jg
Better news for Celtic is that Ronnie Glavin could be back in the side for Saturday.
TweetCeltic 78/79
THE HANDS CANT HIT,
This is the last on this subject.These players were bought in Brendans first two years.I dont give a rats ass what it says anywhere,the fact is,we bought them.At the prices stated.Every available source agrees with the prices.I HAVE checked.You give me your version of where these players came from who bought them,and for how much.
September 20
Celtic v Rosenborg
October 4
FC Salzburg v Celtic
October 25
RB Leipzig v Celtic
November 8
Celtic v RB Leipzig
November 29
Rosenborg v Celtic
December 13
Celtic v FC Salzburg
Whether MD goes or stays, his mind is elsewhere and he’s an angry young man. Not the end of the world. The world is full of them. Things get said in the heat of the moment, problems get blown out of proportion and, before you know it, there is a Mexican Standoff.
I am more concerned about the potential knock-on effect with his French buddies. The three of them are just young boys and if Dembele is telling them not to trust PL / BR it could cause further problems down the road.
Comperr, Kouassi, McKenna, Gamboa, De Vries, Benyu, Hendry, Musonda and Puccini would have a Recruitment leader fired anywhere else for signing and suggesting…
As some want to divide us into camps of Lawell v Rodgers for their reasons I’ll just say that this is a failing at the club generally that needs sorted collectively – Congerton crap performance and Brendan’s blindspots ?
It is a sad commentary on what CQN has become when I have to take a break from CQN and go back to work (where I am dealing with laywers!!!), just to get away from some of the posters on here who just want to fight and argue..
ORLANDO – Lucky Leprauchan North Int Drive will show game
CELTIC’S £3million misfit Eboue Kouassi has been told he can leave the champions.
@ TURKEYBHOY on 31ST AUGUST 2018 4:21 PM
You should work for Donald Trump TB; he would enjoy your vim and vigour. I have stated. My figures come from the accounts. There is no more authoritative document.
Ever considered that the strategy is by low value, high volume and hope 1 in 2 fit your mathematical formula?
Is that Brendan Rodgers strategy or the clubs strategy he must manage under?
Marvin Compper, signed for £1,3million from Bundesliga outfit RB Leipzig in January, has played only 83 minutes in the first team and could also be heading for the Parkhead exit.
Almore – big thanks – I just ordered ‘Dissent to Treason’.
Me da worked on Usher’s Quay. I can remember him bringing me up behind the quays or send me on messages and mentioning Robert Emmett and where he was hanged. You know that generation said more by what they didn’t say than by what they did so it had a huge impact on me. I’m not great at historical books and usually get big hardbacks I never read so picking this one out looks perfect.
HH
andthankstobmcuwptoocsc
Any info on the dates and ko times in the Europa?
THE HANDS CANT HIT,
Told you,no more debate on this subject with you,until you tell me wherebthese players came from if they dont show up on your accounts.
Surely you agree,they were bought from somebody,or are Celtic fiddling the accounts.
Answers please.
Celtic v Rosenborg (September 20, 8pm)
Salzburg v Celtic (October 4, 5.55pm)
RB Leipzig v Celtic (October 25, 5.55pm)
Celtic v RB Leipzig (November 8, 8pm)
Rosenborg v Celtic (November 29, 5.55pm)
Celtic v Salzburg (December 13, 8pm)