Things certainly move fast on transfer window deadline day. The Evening Standard reported that Celtic were in talks with Tottenham over a loan move for Victor Wanyama early on Friday.
However, around an hour later Sky Sports live transfer centre blog (31/01, 12:15) reported that the Hoops denied having any interest in signing Wanyama.
That will be disappointing to some Celtic fans, who would have been hoping that the player, who was excellent in his first spell with the club, would have made a return to the club.
However, for a few reasons it is perhaps to be expected that Wanyama isn’t returning to the club. Firstly, the Hoops just signed a central midfielder in Ismaila Soro.
He adds to the likes of Callum McGregor, Scott Brown and Olivier Ntcham in the Hoops midfield. There are more pressing concerns for Celtic than buying another midfielder.
Lack of game time an issue
Another reason is the lack of football Wanyama has played this season. He has made only four appearances for Spurs this season, with one start, and that was back in September.
Perhaps the most obvious reason that Wanyama won’t be joining the Hoops is money. The Evening Standard reported that any transfer to Celtic would have involved Tottenham paying ‘a significant chuck’ of Wanyama’s £62,000 a week wages.
Perhaps too much money to commit to
That still might have been too much money for Celtic to commit to. Therefore, it is to be expected that Wanyama won’t be back at Celtic Park to help the Hoops win nine in a row.
Maybe if Celtic didn’t already sign Soro, or if Wanyama had played some more football, then a move could have been possible.
However, Celtic have now firmly ended any chance of Wanyama returning to the Hoops. Celtic will no doubt be linked with more players as the window draws to a close, but will any be as high-profile as Wanyama? That remains to be seen.
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