Report: Celtic's largest shareholder Dermot Desmond and his role in the summer transfer window

By Euan Davidson

July 27, 2021

Dermot Desmond, Celtic’s largest shareholder, is giving Ange Postecoglou the benefit of his experience the summer transfer window.

That’s according to the Daily Record, who write that the long-tenured Desmond is dealing directly with transfer targets for the club.

The report claims that Desmond has been speaking directly to other clubs and players to put his weight behind Ange Postecoglou. The new Celtic boss has brought some big names in, like Kyogo Furuhashi and Carl Starfelt.

However, more work needs to be done. Despite Celtic nearly topping their expenditure from last season, key positions need to be reinforced. Specifically, the club needs centre-backs, right-backs and left-wingers, although a holding midfielder wouldn’t go amiss either.

It’s probably the most active we’ve seen Desmond in this way since his hiring of Brendan Rodgers [Daily Record]. Inflamed by watching Rangers win the Scottish Cup Semi-Final in 2016, the Irish billionaire did everything he could to return Celtic to domestic dominance.

Needless to say, it worked. Rodgers was hired, and Celtic went on to win a Quadruple Treble in subsequent seasons.

This comes after several statements and acts of protest from supporters’ groups. In the eyes of a significant number of fans, Desmond and Peter Lawwell were responsible for the club losing the 10.

Dermot Desmond taking hands-on transfer role: a good sign?

If history is our biggest font of knowledge in this area, then maybe this is a good thing.

It’s not so much the financial help that Desmond is providing here. More his expertise and pulling power. Like him or not, he’s brought some significant names to the club over the years.

That includes Rodgers, of course. And his well-covered fury at watching Rangers win spurred him on to become active in pursuing a manager he knew would succeed. Not only that, he backed him in the transfer market [Daily Record].

Postecoglou wouldn’t have been hired without Desmond’s say-so. That being the case, Desmond is likely to have seen Rangers winning our league title and is tapping into that well of indignation.

Should we be excited, then? It’s too early to tell.

Honestly, it depends on who Dermot Desmond is able to help land for Celtic in the transfer window. The largest shareholder isn’t one to risk his reputation on shoddy business, after all.

In other news: former Celtic captain’s vote of confidence amidst pre-season negativity