Celtic fans will be checking the back columns of every newspaper in town to see who their club may acquire this summer.
The transfer window can be an exciting frenzy to be involved in; however, there is also the frustrating element as a supporter of having an insatiable hunger for deals to be swiftly completed, which isn’t always the case.
Nevertheless, there is a buzz about Celtic over potential transfer activity, given Brendan Rodgers is likely to strengthen to help the Bhoys balance their domestic endeavours with life in the new Champions League format.
Financially, automatic entry into the competition opens up financial possibilities; however, competition for assets on the market is tough as it continues to expand.
Either way, from my own view, Celtic’s reported pursuit of one player this summer may represent a slight shift in the type of recruitment the reigning Scottish Premiership champions may carry out.
Celtic’s links to Lausanne-Sport midfielder Alvyn Sanches
Links to targets are widespread at this time of year and, therefore, sometimes hit a dead end, but I have a lot of time on my hands, so bear with me on this one.
According to reports, Celtic are interested in Lausanne-Sport midfielder Alvyn Sanches, a Switzerland Under-21 international also attracting attention from Coventry City, Stoke City, and clubs in the Netherlands, France and Germany.
Mooted to cost in the region of £4.3 million, the Bhoys have scouted him on several occasions this season. Across all competitions, the 21-year-old registered six goals in 27 appearances, featuring in central midfield, attacking midfield and even through the middle as a nine [Transfermarkt].
Now, the reason I cite this example as a potential pattern change stems from last summer. Looking at additions of a similar age profile in 2023, Odin Thiago Holm cost £2.5 million, Hyeokkyu Kwon came in for £1 million, Hyunjun Yang arrived for £2 million, and Marco Tilio, per Sky Sports, made his way in for £1.5 million.
The potential change in tact regarding recruitment for Celtic
Between these players noted, Sanches, being someone who could exceed £4 million to bring to Parkhead, would represent a culture change in the Bhoys’ approach to recruiting prodigious talent.
Some fans were frustrated last year at the level of signing, their lack of immediate impact on the first-team (complicated by having to adapt to their new surroundings and expectations), and the phrase ‘project’ was put into circulation on more than one occasion surrounding these individuals.
Ultimately, if you choose to buy someone in the £1-2 million bracket, they are going to need time to develop, often involving mistakes along the way, unless you get extremely lucky; see Matt O’Riley’s case for evidence. But, flipping the conversation, someone coming to Celtic for a fee of £4 million or above would be expected to deliver.
Could it be a case of the club realising that by raising the fees they’re willing to pay for young stars between, say, 18 to 23, the return on the investment could prove to be greater over time while still working within reasonable financial paramaters?
As a fan myself, I’d like to think so, and this may be necessary for the club to have any chance of competing at Europe’s top table. Nevertheless, time will tell on that front.
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