Report: Why Celtic won't be signing Riley McGree after frustrating saga

By David Walton

January 13, 2022

Celtic won’t be signing Riley McGree due to the fact his valuation has rocketed up to £5m in transfer negotiations, the Daily Record reports.

It had been claimed several days ago that McGree had agreed to become the Hoops’ 5th signing of the January transfer window [Daily Record]. However, the Daily Mail revealed that Championship club Middlesbrough had launched a last-gasp £5m+ offer to take the Australian international.

The Record last night reported that this was in the form of £2.5m up front with double the amount in add-ons. The player, meanwhile, would be on up to £20k-per-week.

The report states that the player has completed his medical down south and is expected to be announced at some stage today. Celtic will instead focus on alternative targets.

It’s a frustrating saga for the Celtic support who were made to believe their club was imminently about to close a deal on this one.

But with the player’s valuation rocketing up considerable, it appears that the Hoops have pulled out.

Celtic and Riley McGree simply just not meant to be

It’s one of the most frustrating things to happen for a supporter. They get invested in players they believe are certain to arrive as they do their research and get excited over what they could possibly bring to the club. Only for any potential to be KO’d at the last minute.

Not that it is some sort of catastrophic blow to Celtic’s transfer plans. This isn’t a decision that will totally rock Ange or the club in any way whatsoever. It’s more of an annoyance than anything fatally damaging.

We’ve already spoken considerably about the fact that competition is already strong in the Celtic midfield. Not that McGree would’ve made it overcrowded, but there was no guarantee he was going to be a first-team regular.

It would be interesting to know of course what made McGree think that Middlesbrough was the best move for him. Especially having already spent time in the Championship last season. Is it a financial move over a football one? That’s the way it will come across to the cynics.

Regardless, attentions will now turn to the potential alternative targets that Ange has in mind. Celtic fans will wait in anticipation as we hope to find out who they are.

But one thing’s for sure, this isn’t news that will set Ange back. Far from it.

In other news, Report: SPFL rule to be re-introduced in time for Celtic vs Hibernian