Celtic defender Carl Starfelt is closing in on a move to Celta Vigo in La Liga and it could all be finalised early this week.
Brendan Rodgers has already confirmed the move is looking imminent. Starfelt is keen to play in a bigger league and wants to move closer to his partner, the former Celtic FC Women star Jacynta.
But what kind of transfer fee will Celtic be looking at? Well, it won’t be a huge profit if the latest reports are to go by. Sky Sports journalist Anthony Joseph has stated on Twitter today that around £5m will be the value of the deal it takes for the Swedish international’s move to go through.
It’s said that negotiations continue, so that could shift a bit, but it seems this is the ballpark figure being discussed between Celtic and Celta Vigo.
That will disappoint some supporters who have come to value Starfelt’s contributions over the last two years. He has formed a very solid partnership with Cameron Carter-Vickers and has been a key part of trophy successes.
Starfelt is thought to have arrived at the Bhoys for around £4m from Rubin Kazan [The Scotsman], so there’s not an enormous amount of profit here. But he was never one of the squad members who was regarded as a massive transfer cash asset anyway.
His exit is similar to both Josip Juranovic’s and Giorgos Giakoumakis’ over the last 12 months – players in their late twenties who have talent but are never going to be moved on for giant fees.
Big fees are generated by potential – Moussa Dembele, Kieran Tierney and Jota were all much younger when they left the Bhoys. That’s what clubs are buying when the money moves into the tens of millions.
Starfelt is moving on for a decent sum having excelled in Scottish football. He’ll be remembered fondly. If he feels it’s time to go, it’s best to let him rather than keep a player here who isn’t fully committed.
Celtic’s big task now is finding a replacement before the end of August that can reliably compete with Carter-Vickers and Maik Nawrocki in the central defensive area. All of the money generated by Starfelt’s sale should go towards securing a quality alternative.
In other news, Celtic talent heading to Championship side on loan after impressing in pre-season.
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