Ange Postecoglou is bracing himself for what he describes as a tricky transfer window.
Entering his fifth transfer window the hoops boss has largely got his squad into shape although there remains the Lawwell/Lennon legacy of players like Ismaila Soro, Albian Ajeti, Liam Shaw and Vasilis Barkas coming back from loan spells with time to run on their contracts.
Postecoglou has built a young, valuable squad but discovered in January that envious eyes are being cast in his direction.
Josip Juranovic and Giorgos Giakoumakis were sold after less than 18 months at Celtic with the hoops boss expecting strong interest in his squad in the coming weeks.
The Sun reports the Celtic boss saying:
We’re not close to confirming anyone but our work started a while back. It’s an ongoing thing.
I think this transfer market potentially could be a tricky one for us. It’s the first one where potentially they could come for some of our key players.
We’ve got to be ready for that. We’ve got to insure ourselves against those kinds of things happening. We’ve identified players we think can make us a better side but also the insurance is there if we lose a couple, that we’re still in good shape.
Over the course of events those things will get announced. The work is always ongoing.
It sounds like Celtic’s transfer business will be in reaction to the offers that come in for current players.
Decisions are expected on the futures of Joe Hart, Aaron Mooy and David Turnbull who are all out of contract in May 2024.
Don’t get too attached to your heroes- Ange Postecoglou
The buy to sell policy at Celtic is still very much the mast our Board has nailed IT’S colours on.
Now whether Ange can somehow turn this approach into a positive in Europe remains to be seen at Celtic.
After all it’s not worked for any other Manager since its arrival in the Summer of 2013 post Liquidation of our nearest rival.
No what we have witnessed is mediocrity at best in Europes elite competition and truth be told absolute embarrassment at worst.
Since 2012 when Neil Lennon took a squad assembled for less than £20m into the last 16 of the Champions League we’ve lost 17 games and been soundly pumped in several of them.
Real fingers over the eyes stuff at times.
Lenny,Brendan and Ronny all suffered under the Lawwellball routine of routinely selling our key Assets for profit.
Yes it makes great reading off the pitch as he and Investors made plenty bit on the Park it has come at a cost.
We are now viewed as an also ran or a place to go take selfies for the scrap book.
“I once played football at a ground Maldini said was a professional must”.
Hopefully Ange insists that we not only strengthen in terms of quality this window but that we also hold onto our very best players and add even better to them.
The great teams build on their success,they retain and refresh but the key component is consistency in spine of the side.
We have the finances ,we are in a position where we don’t have to sell to balance the books.
It is looking like Frimpong is on his way to the Premiership and it may be likely Tierney will also be looking for a move to find regular first team action again.
If you throw in the Tour of Japan then it is very likely we are looking at a return of well over £10m there alone.
If say Abada is moved on then you could argue at least another £10m coming from that sale alone.
I hope Ange uses the past Decade as an example of how badly selling key assets can hamper progress in a Competition where we are struggling to close the chasm in quality in the first place.
2012-13 Groups
Played 6 Won 3 Drew 1 Lost 2
Goals For 9 Goals Against 8 GD +1
Group Standing 2nd
2013-14 Groups
Played 6 Won 1 Lost 5
Goals For 3 Goals Against 14 GD -11
Group Standing 4th
2016-17 Groups
Played 6 Drew 3 Lost 3
Goals For 5 Goals Against 16 GD -11
Group Standing 4th
2017-18 Groups
Played 6 Won 1 Lost 5
Goals For 5 Goals Against 18 GD-13
Group Standing 3rd
2022-23 Groups
Played 6 Drew 2 Lost 4
Goals For 4 Goals Against 15 GD-11
Group Standing 4th