Why reported £1million valuation for Celtic's Nir Bitton is laughable

By David Walton

November 11, 2019

Nir Bitton to Burnley is the latest reported player departure that could come to pass in January.

According to the Scottish Sun, Sean Dyche is looking to lure the Israeli down south in a cut-price £1million deal in the New Year.

However, if Burnley are wanting to get serious about Bitton, they have to start by changing their ludicrous valuation for him.

Nir Bitton has been a key figure for Celtic (Dave Winter/Icon Sport)

Sure, Bitton is out of contract at the end of the season (Transfermarkt). That’s always going to take a fair chunk of a player’s true valuation off. After all, Burnley could always snap him up on a pre-contract if they were willing to wait until the end of the season to get him.

But let’s take a look at what Bitton has achieved throughout his career.

In terms of major honours, he’s won six Scottish Premiership titles, three Scottish Cups, and four League Cups. That’s not even taking into account the fact he’s made 25 appearances for Israel too. He’s a key cog for his national team, featuring in the last four competitive matches he’s been fit for.

Bitton has Champions League and Europa League experience under his belt too. He’s done it all at Parkhead.

Lennon and Bitton don’t want to break up

The Scottish Sun also claims that Neil Lennon wants to keep him. He stated that the Hoops want to change his contract situation soon. Bitton, meanwhile, has also stated that he wants to stay at Celtic for as long as he can (Celtic View, Volume 55, Issue 16, Page 13).

Bitton’s contract is up at the end of the season (Vagelis Georgariou/Action Plus via Getty Images)

So if Burnley want Bitton, they need to up their bid by some margin. Both the player and Celtic want his contract to be extended. That alone should drive up his valuation if Dyche truly desires him in January.

Gone should be the days when Celtic allow talents like Bitton to leave for prices as low as £1m.

It’s also not as if he’s an outcast at the club either. Bitton proved how invaluable he is at the start of the season when he was used as vital centre-back cover. Celtic have yet to lose a game when Bitton has been on the pitch this year too.

Neil Lennon and Bitton have a positive relationship (Vagelis Georgariou/Action Plus via Getty Images)

He still has a big part to play at Parkhead. So Burnley are either being insulting with a reported offer of £1m, or they simply don’t know what his current situation is up here.

But, in order for Lenny to be interested, you get the sense it’ll take a lot more than a paltry sum such as that.