The harmful urge to sign players early

How many of us rolled eyes at the news this week that Issouf Bayo was off to play for Watford, a Premier League team last season, and Oliver Burke would ply his trade in the Bundesliga with Werder Bremen?  Both are forwards, both 25, both fleeting unsuccessful stints at Celtic, now they have won a ticket for wages at a high paying club.

There is a great truism in football, the fans who watch a player week-in, week-out will provide a more telling insight than YouTube clips, stats or scouting reports.  Good luck to both of them but I expect neither to succeed.

The problem with Watford and Werder is that they both want a striker in early and do not have the patience to hang around until nearer the end of the window, when talent that is actually in demand will become available.

Looking in from the outside, we can both see the rashness.  What benefit is there in recruiting guys who were so easily handled by SPFL defenders?  Watford fans will see Bayo who banged in 11 goals in a six-month loan stint a Charleroi, whereas Werder fans will wonder at how they picked up a striker on a free transfer who has twice been sold for in excess of £13m.

Having qualified for the Champions League group stage, there is, by contrast, a calm over events at Celtic.  Two of last season’s successful loanees are now on permanent deals, Dundee United’s free keeper was signed and we paid a tidy sum for what, by any measure, is an ambitious move into the South American youth market.

There are more spaces in the squad available: a third striker option and midfield cover.  Let’s not be like Watford and Werden Bremen.