Tottenham Hotspur moving the goalposts over Celtic man hurts them, Hoops and the player himself

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According to a report in the Daily Record, Tottenham Hotspur want as much as £10m for Celtic loanee Cameron Carter-Vickers.

If you want the definition over ever-present, Carter-Vickers has been in for Celtic. In every game he’s played, he’s lasted the whole 90 minutes [Transfermarkt]. Frankly, it’s because he brings experience and calm to a Celtic defence that massively needed it.

On a level, you can understand the pure finances here; Tottenham Hotspur are the selling club, they dictate the price. However, surely everyone involved here knows that Celtic aren’t going to shell out £10m.

So now we’re left with a scenario where Carter-Vickers knows he’ll likely be somewhere else, the club most interested in him can’t afford him, and Spurs will be stuck where they were last summer; trying to move him on.

It’s hard to see who this actually benefits. In principle, Tottenham Hotspur because they’re imagining getting £10m for him. Maybe they will in England, but it’s telling that Celtic landed him ahead of the likes of Bournemouth.

If the report is correct, Spurs have most likely priced themselves out of a more reasonable deal for a good player they have no intention to use.

For Celtic, it’s an awkward situation. Keeping Carter-Vickers motivated theoretically shouldn’t be a problem. But by doing this now, it puts the club in an awkward spot with him. Most likely, there’s no permanence to his situation in Glasgow. That could weigh on Postecoglou’s mind.

And Carter-Vickers’. He’s, by his own account, enjoying his football at Celtic. His defensive output has been colossal. The difference he’s making to the defence speaks for itself.

So, this report could easily unsettle things.

Tottenham Hotspur are only unsettling Celtic and their asset in Cameron Carter-Vickers, if report is correct

This is no knock on Cameron Carter-Vickers, or any loanee. Surely, though, the incentive is different if players know there’s a permanent move to their loan club in play.

Let’s be clear; at a reported £10m, there’s nothing “in play” here from Celtic’s point of view. Not for one player.

Both Jota and Carter-Vickers have played as if they’re comfortable and ambitious where they are. That’s what’s been so key to their impressive performances in the Green and White.

If the report is correct, Spurs have only moved to unsettle a loanee who was doing well. A player who they were actively trying to get rid of in the summer. One who was nowhere near getting into the first-team, not really.

It’s hard to know what the point of this is, then. Tottenham Hotspur will only find it more difficult to move Carter-Vickers on at the mooted price. Celtic won’t pay that. Carter-Vickers faces more uncertainty over his future.

It’s absolutely bizarre, and crucially, it’s something that benefits precisely none of the parties involved.

Read more: Report: EPL club’s staggering decision on Celtic man who’s played every available minute