Marian Shved has moved out on loan to KV Mechelen of Belgium as Celtic effectively write-off £4m in the space of a week.
Technically Shved was the final signing made by Brendan Rodgers but the former manager’s reaction the first time that the Ukrainian’s name was put to him suggests that his involvement was minimal.
Shortly before Shved checked in Vakoun Bayo joined with the fees for both players reported to be around £4m.
Nicky Hammond deserves some praise for finding clubs to take Shved and Bayo but it does leave a question mark over what was going on regarding recruitment during the 2018/19 season with Rodgers moving on before February was completed.
At lunchtime today Celtic’s website reported:
MARIAN Shved has joined Belgian club, KV Mechelen, on a season-long loan, subject to international clearance.
The 23-year-old winger signed for Celtic back in January 2019 from Karpaty Lviv, though he was immediately loaned back to the Ukrainian side for the rest of the season.
He made the first of three appearances for Celtic at the start of last season, coming on as a substitute and scoring in a 2-0 win over Nomme Kalju in a Champions League qualifier in Estonia. Everyone at Celtic wishes Marian success at KV Mechelen this season.
Oli Burke and Timon Weah also arrived in January 2019, both players gave the side a much needed boost but before the season was completed it was obvious that neither would be making their moves permanent. Manny Perez and Andrew Gutman were also signed in January 2019.
During the summer 2018 transfer window Celtic signed Odsonne Edouard in June then it all went downhill as Dedryck Boyata angled for an exit running in tandem with the John McGinn saga.
Like Weah and Burke the loan signing of Filip Benkovic started promisingly before fizzing out, the fizz from Youssouf Mulumba went out even quicker.
Thankfully it seems like lessons have been learned. Paying a little bit more gets a far higher standard of recruit with Vasilis Barkas and Albian Ajeti both looking like making an impact and staying around.
Bayo is under contract with Celtic until December 2022 with Shved contracted until June 2023.
