Former Celtic striker Scott McDonald has urged the club to learn their lessons from last summer’s transfer mistakes.
Celtic retained all of their key players and spent a fair wedge of money in the market throughout 2020. However, none of it really paid off.
The club were left with a raft of players who wanted moves elsewhere, while the players who were bought for big money failed to perform.
It was deeply frustrating to see multi-million-pound moves for Vasilis Barkas and Albian Ajeti fail to work out.
McDonald was left dismayed with the inability to retain both Fraser Forster and Craig Gordon last year, as well as a deal for Ivan Toney falling through.
It’s these mistakes he wants the club to recognise and learn from over the next few months.
Speaking to The Sunday Post, McDonald said: “Lessons need to be learned from last summer.
“Celtic had two excellent goalkeepers in Fraser Forster and Craig Gordon. For various reasons, both didn’t sign on again. The club also searched for a striker, and Toney appeared to be their number one target. I remember watching him two or three years ago for Peterborough against Middlesbrough, and he really caught my eye.
“He had presence and pace. He looked to have the raw materials to go a long way. When Celtic were linked with him, I was excited. There was no doubt in my mind he’d do well. But a fee couldn’t be agreed and he went to Brentford. That was a blow. Look at how well he is doing in the English Championship, so it’s a sore one to miss out on.
“The club ended up getting Ajeti, but it’s not been a great season for the Swiss striker. He has been in and out. So we know how hard it is to find a proper No. 9. It will not be easy to find one. Indeed, Celtic might be looking for two strikers in the summer window if Leigh Griffiths and Odsonne Edouard follow Patryk Klimala, another disappointment this season, out the door. It makes it all the harder.”
Did Celtic make transfer mistakes, or is the club simply struggling to keep up?
Blame has been placed on Celtic for the Forster and Toney situations but, if anything, it showed that the club are struggling to keep up in an increasingly buoyant English market.
The Bhoys were eventually bullied out of a move for Toney by Brentford, despite the player being keen on a move, while Forster clearly still has his eyes on the money-spinning wages down south.
This isn’t really the club’s fault. However, that doesn’t mean lessons can’t be learned. A focus on other markets, better connections and scouting, as well as recruitment analysis, can all help Celtic steal a march on rival European clubs.
Finding the next Ivan Toney before he becomes a scoring sensation should be the model pursued. That takes time and patience. Ultimately it’s all why Celtic are rebuilding the football department right now.
What it means for this summer’s window is unknown. It could be another bruising few months for the club and supporters. Hopefully, at least, our recruitment team can show a bit more ruthlessness when tying down the targets they want. That’s probably the change supporters want to see most of all.
In other news, agent is again talking up Celtic interest in CAF Champions League hero.
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