Celtic’s total summer transfer spend is ticking closer and closer to £20m as the Bhoys look to complete even more business in the final hours of the current window.
On Wednesday night, Winger Luis Palma was officially announced as the club’s latest acquisition. The Honduran has put pen to paper on a five-year deal and will immediately compete for a spot in Brendan Rodgers’ starting eleven.
It’s been reported that Celtic have spent £3.5m to land him [Glasgow Times], with other clubs in the UK and across Europe said to have been tracking him throughout the summer. Hopes are high that he can provide the attacking spark needed to rejuvenate a frustratingly limp front three in recent weeks.
Per reported figures, that takes Celtic’s total spend to £17.9m since the window opened.
Odin Thiago Holm arrived for £2.5m [The Times], while South Koren duo Hyunjun Yang and Hyeokkyu Kwon made moves to Scotland for £2.1m and £1m. [The Times]
Celtic also paid an A-League export record fee of £1.5m to Melbourne City for Australian prospect Marco Tilio, who has yet to feature in action for the Hoops due to an injury. [Glasgow Times]
A significant amount of cash was then used to bolster Rodgers’ defensive options. Maik Nawrocki became one of the most expensive Polish defensive exports in history with a £4.3m switch from Legia Warsaw [The Times], while Gustar Lagerbielike arrived for £3m. [The Herald]
MORE CELTIC STORIES
As stated, in total it adds up to almost £18m, which may surprise some people considering the business that still needs to be done and the perceived quality of the Celtic squad.
Thankfully, more reinforcements are on the way with Nat Phillips of Liverpool and Paulo Bernardo said to be the closest to signing up in the media today.
That spending is all relative, of course. Celtic aren’t spending beyond their means. The club had a strong bank balance before summer trading began with a large fee for Jota also received, as well as money for Starfelt. Added to another season of Champions League riches, the Bhoys can afford to do these deals.
In other news, Luis Palma sends online message to the Celtic support and his story is about to move very quickly.