Celtic, SPFL clubs are no longer pushovers in the transfer market

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Celtic and their competitors in the SPFL had a choice to make when the transfer window reopened.

Given that Scotland’s Men’s team actually qualified for a tournament, I dare say our country’s professional set-up has become (relatively) fashionable again. And while we failed to make the impact we wanted at Euro 2020, Scottish players were watched worldwide again. It’s been a while.

But even before the tournament kicked off, we had rampant speculation about some of the league’s top players. For Celtic, Odsonne Edouard and Kristoffer Ajer were tipped for moves. For Hibs, Josh Doig was being scouted by Premier League giants [Sky Sports]. See also Kevin Nisbet, wanted by Birmingham City [Edinburgh Live].

Watford were after Aberdeen dynamo Lewis Ferguson [Watford Observer]. The list goes on.

What’s the point here? Well, all the players I’ve listed, worth millions of pounds, remain in Scotland. That is, until the right offers come in for top Scotland-based talent. What a refreshing change of pace that is.

It’s very rare that you ask something of Celtic and it actually happens. Far from being a selling club, flattered by the interest of English clubs and selling quickly, the club are digging their heels and generating better income from their assets.

Odsonne Edouard didn’t move to Leicester City, with Celtic bearing in mind the sell-on fee owed to Paris Saint-Germain [Daily Record]. As for Kristoffer Ajer, the club are reportedly knocking back bids that don’t reach the club’s £20m evaluation [Sun].

Celtic, SPFL clubs are holding firm in their evaluation of key assets

Admittedly it’s quite frustrating, from our point of view at least, that Hibs aren’t budging on Doig or Nisbet. We could really use both of them, being entirely honest.

However, this is a positive trend. For too long, talents from the Scottish top-flight have been pinched for pennies. The examples are too numerous to list, but think of the likes of John McGinn and Stuart Armstrong. Equally, hindsight is useful, but Kieran Tierney for £25m was an absolute snip given his contribution to a poor Arsenal side [Sky Sports].

Now, you could take the view that Celtic and SPFL clubs holding out for “truer” evaluations is a reflection of how Covid-19 has affected budgets, and you’d probably be right. Certainly, Scottish clubs have been hit hard by lack of match-day revenue, just like anywhere else in the world.

But if anything, that makes this show of resolve more impressive. Knowing a deal could collapse, during tough financial times league-wide, is a big risk to take.

Before we got into the summer transfer window, I wrote that Scottish clubs had to stop being dazzled and get a fair deal for their best players. Seemingly, the tide has turned.

It might hurt a little in the short-term, but for Celtic, and SPFL clubs in general, it’ll be worth it.

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