Ronny Deila is hoping that he can bring in one more player ahead of next week’s Champions League play-off against Maribor.
Celtic brought in Jason Denayer and Aleksandar Tonev on loan ahead of yesterday’s signing deadline but UEFA also allow clubs to add one name to their squad 48 hours before the first leg kicks off.
Deila has until Sunday evening to add to his squad and is looking to bring in another signing before flying out to Slovenia.
“I really hope that we can get that,” he replied when asked about adding a ‘wildcard’ signing. “I’m looking for a player who will make a difference for the game against Maribor.”
The arrival of three loan signings has caused concern among supporters after the record turnover in recent seasons which has included over £30m from transfer fees as well as back to back campaigns in the group stage of the Champions League.
Spending at that sort of level is completely unrealistic with Celtic fans aware the level of the market that the club operates at with an unofficial transfer fee ceiling in the region of £3m.
That policy has been tried and tested- bringing in Gary Hooper, Victor Wanyama and Fraser Forster among others- but Deila felt the need to go over old ground regarding transfer policy.
“I have money to spend and that is the most important thing but if we buy a player for £10 million what do you think the salary of that player will be?” he asked. “It will be five or six times more than you get at Celtic. If we pay that, what will happen to the other players?
“You have to see the big picture. It is not about the fee, it is about the salaries. The money from television in the English Premiership is huge.
“Celtic is unbelievably huge but the money (here) is not so huge. It has to be driven in a good way and Celtic have done that for many years and will continue to do so but if the right player is available then there is money there.”
No group of supporters understand football economics better than Celtic fans. The liquidation of Rangers has brought about a whole new footballing vocabulary with the likely administration of Sevco ticking away in the background.
There isn’t a Celtic fan alive demanding a £10m signing but another Hooper, Forster or Wanyama would be very welcome if for no reason other than to have someone to sell in a few years time.
Tomorrow night Celtic- and Deila- take their first steps in public since the dramatic meeting with Legia Warsaw at Murrayfield when the hoops meet Scottish Cup winners St Johnstone..
With Tonov missing through injury the hoops will be on similar lines leaving Deila with six days and a possible wildcard to come up with the team and formation capable of beating Maribor.
