It used to be the case that Celtic used loan deals as temporary fixes, but don’t even dare put that notion to Ange Postecoglou.
Celtic have taken a hardline stance when it comes to players they’re looking to bring to the club. If there’s a temporary deal to be done, Ange has ensured that the Hoops always have the chance to make it permanent in the long run.
Jota and Cameron Carter-Vickers are prime examples of that. Players who in the past Celtic would’ve settled for getting just for a season. But Ange’s insistence on building for the long-term has ensured we now have them tied down in Glasgow for the long-term.
Just look at what CCV has had to say about his move to Celtic. He stated that he only ever wanted to sign for the Hoops after playing for the club last season [The Herald]. He clearly caught the bug that so many do and it made him dismiss any interest from EPL clubs.
You have to love that. It wouldn’t have been possible had Celtic not put the option to buy clause in. It never gave opposition clubs a chance to sign him and now he belongs to the Hoops for the foreseeable future.
You could say that this is almost like a new level of self-respect the club has for itself now. Just look at how we’ve conducted ourselves in the transfer saga surrounding Vinicius Souza. In the past we would’ve allowed it to drag on the entire window and end up failing to get him. Now, the club isn’t messing about and are pushing for a response. You either want to be here or we move on [Daily Record].
Celtic no longer looking for players that aren’t committed for the long-term
Celtic of course want to be competitive in the short-term and continue to win trophies. However, the long-term vision Ange has for the club is just as important to the manager.
He demands that all of his new arrivals buy into the project. Not for a year or for 6 months, but for the foreseeable future. When you arrive at Celtic you see yourself here for a long time. You aren’t already looking at your next move or potential future options a year down the line.
This kind of approach when it comes to transfer targets has clearly done us plenty of good so far. If we took the approach we had in recent years, we likely wouldn’t have Jota or CCV still at the club.
This is a football club that’s becoming attractive to play for again. A club that those from the outside can see is creating something special. No longer are we constantly rebuilding in every transfer window.
A massive reason for this is because Ange has only been sourcing players who are open to being at Celtic for a long time. Those who signed last summer are in no rush to leave within a year and it’s so far made for a relaxing transfer window so far.
The next step is of course making our mark in Europe once again. But it would be a lot more difficult if our current group were eyeing up moves elsewhere. Thanks to Ange’s approach, that simply isn’t the case and Celtic are benefiting massively from it.
In other news, The Celtic selection battle that will likely go right to flag day
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