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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Moussa gone
HH
Catman,
That’s a shame. But as it comes from you, I have to accept it.
OGLACH is in the dictionary as well. See Tosser
HS
Stopped a certain goal against Accies on Sunday right at the start, not always the best with his
feet, got away with it last night.
On balance No:1 comfortably
HH
Selling Dembele this week would also have been stupid from a business perspective.
We received one bid i.e. no auction. Not only that, we would have sold him when clubs from the world’s craziest market (the EPL) would have been unable to bid.
When Celtic sell him, make sure it’s an auction amongst EPL clubs.
Are there any rumours of further signings (aside from Benkovic, who i think hasn’t officially signed yet)?
Or is that our lot?
Edouard -£9m – paid over what period?
Izzi- Free
Mulumbu- Free
Morgan- £300k
Benkovic- Loan
Arzani- Loan
Out:
Sviatchenko- £1m
Armstrong- £7m
£1.3m net spend plus any loan fees?
A window in which BR stated he only wanted quality. Not really worked out that way.
I just can’t understand what our strategy was this window. We were told we were waiting for the EPL window to close, it did. No purchases.
It’s all disappointing when we should have built on one of the best seasons in our history.
Catman
Anyone coming in for him?
let MD go – we can bring in a more dynamic striker to compliment Eddy and Griff.
Catman
Back to us on loan ?
Gone forever ?
Replacement found ?
Brendan writing resignation letter ?
Thanks as always…
If MD is off then Lawwell has blinked first.
Hearing from someone employed by Celtic that Moussa has left the building. Sad if true.
We’re gonna need a bigger server.
Up goes the call :
“Negatonians, assemble on CQN……”
THE HANDS…………..
Do you turn into a Pumpkin at Midnight?
Evening BHoys and hope you are all well. Some great posts.
A quiz would just get in the way,,,and with Moussa gone,,let the fun and games begin ;)
Oh please visit http://www.sentinelcelts.com and say Hi.
Hail Hail
I mentioned in here I would have signed Morelos 6months ago – we would have got him for 2m .
He’s quick and technical and always gets into scoring positions – just lacked confidence. So you would you playing for that mob. BR would have made a player out of him. He will score on Sunday in a 5-1 defeat :)
50 shades of green on 31st August 2018 6:45 pm
Oglach,
Dae ye fink we wull huv the Hotel bult in time fur 10 in a row party, and are you going to it ☻
====
Havin’ given up the oul oilfield malarkey 4 years ago I doubt I could afford to, or want to for that matter too much of my life spent in hotels. Very much doubt if I’m an example of it’s likely target demographic and doubt the ordinary SB / shareholder type would be considered- IE – Moi. Of course this is mere speculation as the damn thing hasn’t even had the foundations laid yet.
Stebhoy
Morelos is stinking and scowls like a hun.
As someone once said, he always looks like he’s walked into a room and forgotten why he came in…
Ajer will score on Sunday
3 match packages are priced as follows:-
Season Ticket 3 match package prices
Adults – £72
Concessions – £57
Under 13 – £42
————
Very reasonable indeed.
Stebhoy
You on the same powder that Alfredo loves consuming?
Awe_Naw_Nae_Quiz_Oan_Anaw_Noo ?
ToTheCarPark CSC
Ron Bacardi on 31st August 2018 6:49 pm
OGLACH is in the dictionary as well. See Tosser
===
Aye mo chara that may well be but at least I’m not a certified board catamite as you undoubtedly are. Now feck right off ya dobber.
let the football begin
Gonnae stoap flinging personal insullts aboot.
This place is becoming more hun like by the day.
Play the ball, not the man please.
YNWA
Fool Time Whistle
A good comment.
The sooner this window closes the better. The thing is it might not bring any closure.
The bottom line for me, I don’t trust the PLC.
@ BOURNESOUPRECIPE on 31ST AUGUST 2018 7:01 PM
It’s not wrong.
THOMTHETHIM FOR OSCAR OK on 31ST AUGUST 2018 7:05 PM
Please god
By all accounts Celtic played some very good football last night and great to have European football for the third successive year at Celtic Park having to play ten games so far to achieve this marathon. Well done to Brendan and the players.. Interesting listening to Adrian Durham this evening on Talksport for a change he was quite kind to both Glasgow teams and really slated Burnley for harming the image of the great EPL by going out to A Greek side who finished third in their league.
Indeed one wonders how many of the teams from the so-called big leagues would suffer a similar fate if they had to play qualifying rounds in the Champions Lg etc. The Dembele saga unfortunately continues and this can be expected with talented players as they come in and impress and then the vultures circle and we get big money. A fact of football life at Celtic. Dembele is injury prone and was missing for most of last season in addition to Griff but we still managed to win the treble. Nothing wrong with that.
Delaneys Dunky on 31st August 2018 7:05 pm
Gonnae stoap flinging personal insullts aboot.
This place is becoming more hun like by the day.
Play the ball, not the man please.
YNWA
======
But he started it :-(
STEBHOY
£2M – You crazy don’t you know they turned down £11M from ‘the Chinese’ ?
Quick quiz question transfer window July 2018
Name 3 players who didn’t really want to play with Celtic
McGinn, Boyata & Dembelle
3 players itching to play on Sunday Kieran, Scott & Leigh
Nothing to do with any board decision just the 6 players
David66 – I liked the the bring on the Suds then the Fuds :-)
Only interested in players who want to play with Celtic CSC
OGLARCH,
I have no opinions about the Celtic board. I reckon that you are the catamite of board haters.
who will take the penalties now.
Petec
Like you, I place my trust in JC.
PL is in the camp of loving filthy lucre.
The root of all evil is the love of money.
Beelzebub is delighted at what is happening at a club formed by Christians.
I am scunnered Pete.
YNWA
Moussa’s gone noo, whit a feckin’ cairry oan…
evening all, haven’t been on for a while due to circumstances beyond my control, sometimes the meaning of life and death comes before cqn, okay where do I start we were miles ahead of the sevco now we are all wondering who to play, where in what position who will we have who is going who is coming what a feckin shambles, this happens every transfer deadline .sorry, IMSOFPO.HH.
£72 for the Europa Package is good PR. At last! Betcha the Govanites would have been hoping to charge more. Maybe they will, of course.
In other news, looks like my Javea apartment TV that has no Scottish channels but thousands of others is showing “Celtic v Glasgow Rangers” on Sunday on 2 channels – Ziggo Sport Voetbal and Sport 1 Voetbal. I’m guessing Dutch commentary?
Oglach
You are correct.
But please stop lowering yourself to his level ;)))