Celtic have a reputation of being difficult to deal with whenever the club tries to negotiate transfer deals.
Michael Nicholson’s role in Celtic’s transfers has been questioned on numerous occasions after the CEO came under fire for the summer shambles in 2025.
Making lowball offers, creating long drawn-out negotiations, Celtic were once laughed at by Go Ahead Eagles over the potential transfer of Jakob Breum.
What would your message to Dermot Desmond be now that the transfer window has closed
But on transfer deadline day, it appears Nicholson & Co were very easy to deal with, as Motherwell boss praises Celtic for their role in allowing Stephen Welsh to return to Fir Park.
Motherwell’s ‘good and transparent’ dealings with Celtic over Stephen Welsh
With the 11pm transfer deadline looming, Celtic signed Benjamin Arthur which opened the door for Welsh to return to Motherwell.
And Jens Berthel Askou was delighted with the deal, and Celtic’s conduct during the late night transfer drama.
Askou told Motherwell’s official website, “We welcome back Stephen with open arms, knowing that he has unfinished business to attend to here with us.
“The dialogue with Celtic has been good and transparent all the way through, and we are absolutely delighted that we found a solution that sends him back to Fir Park to continue his development with us.”
Celtic fans won’t be fooled by Askou’s transfer comments
While Askou’s comments are welcome and it’s good to see Celtic being cooperative during the transfer window, this won’t fool fans.
Celtic seem to be far more reciprocal when it comes to getting players off the books than bringing them in.
If Celtic were ‘good and transparent’ when negotiating transfer incomings, maybe the Parkhead board would not find themselves scrambling around on deadline day trying to get Martin O’Neill the reinforcements he was screaming out for at the beginning of January.
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