Soccer Football - Scottish Premiership - Kilmarnock v Celtic - Rugby Park, Kilmarnock, Scotland, Britain - April 16, 2023 Celtic non-executive Chairman Peter Lawwell in the stands before the match REUTERS/Russell Cheyne
When Celtic beat Newcastle 4-0 on July 19 there was a feeling that it was the farewell appearances for Yang Hyun-jun and Marco Tilio, two of the less than Magnificent Seven identified and signed up by Mark Lawwell in the summer of 2023.
Norwich were very keen on signing Yang, interest in Tilio was deeper with a report the day after the Newcastle match that he was on his way to Rapid Vienna with the move becoming permanent after he started 20 matches.
Those moves seemed fairly straightforward, helping to clear the way for new wingers after the sale of Nicolas Kuhn in tandem with the long term injury to Jota.
Brendan Rodgers’ side needed wingers ready to impact on important matches, over the course of two years Yang and Tilio had shown that they were well short of requirements.
On Sunday, due almost entirely to the failed negotiating skills of Michael Nicholson, Yang and Tilio will almost certainly be involved in the SPFL opener at home to St Mirren, Yang could be in the Starting XI.
This isn’t a Liam Scales or Ryan Christie type turnaround of players demonstrating to the manager that they really are first team players, this is on the chronic recruitment issues engulfing Celtic.
Yang and Tilio unable to be moved on – and their buying clubs moving onto other targets – because we’ve been unable to source replacements, brings this transfer window fully into “shambles” territory.
— 20 Minute Tims (@20MinuteTims) July 29, 2025
Over the last few weeks it has become clear that Nicholson is miles out of his comfort zone negotiating to buy players, a skill that he picked up working alongside Peter Lawwell when he was the club’s Legal Secretary then promoted in 2019 to the post of Director of Legal and Football Affairs.
Even the normally on-message Anthony Joseph is publicising Celtic’s incompetence over transfer activity.
UPDATE: Go Ahead Eagles are standing firm on their valuation of attacking midfielder Jakob Breum.
It’s understood #GAE are looking for at least £5m for the 21yo. #CelticFC have had two bids rejected for Breum – the latest offer being £2.6m.
Negotiations are ongoing. https://t.co/w81gWA3k18
— Anthony Joseph (@AnthonyRJoseph) July 29, 2025
Not only has Nicholson failed to deliver Jakob Breum but the impact of that has had a domino effect elsewhere.
Faced with the prospect of nothing or Yang and Tilio Rodgers opted to halt the sale of the two wingers, now Norwich and Rapid Vienna have moved on and are close to concluding deals to sign other transfer targets.
That is how proper clubs with competent recruitment operate. When you make an offer, hold discussions and agree a fee you expect it to be concluded by the selling club. If they opt to hang on, drag their heels you switch attention to the next target rather than lurking around waiting on a decision.
Some fans doubt whether Nicholson possesses a Plan A never mind Plan B, the deals that he concluded last summer suggests that he may actually have a Plan A.
Celtic resume training today after two days off following the Como Cup, after losing to Ajax Rodgers questioned the ambition of the club.
Breum and Michel-Ange Balikwisha won’t be at Lennoxtown this morning, Yang and Tilio will. Rodgers has his answer.
Are you happy with Celtic's transfer activity
Absolutely- fantastic business
I will judge on September 1
Horrific- feels like 2023 again
Worth noting that we knew Kuhn was leaving in January. Como has their man lined up and ready to make the move, deal completed weeks ago.
Lots of other clubs do transfer business the normal way.
We might end up with good players this window but it’s by accident. Not design.
— 20 Minute Tims (@20MinuteTims) July 29, 2025
I’m losing a bit of hope for this season tbh….
That RW is horrific, Yang & Forrest…
No proven goal scorer…
& a striker covering the LW with Jota out till January
Might be overreacting but the front 3 doesn’t fill me with confidence no matter how you set it up?
— TheHoops?????????? (@67_Celtic_1888) July 29, 2025
Why did we let Kühn go then if this is our logic/transfer strategy?
Ah wait…It’s because of the money we got for Kühn.
Too big an offer to turn down for this board.
So if the money is right, you can leave.
Nothing to do with finding a replacement first.
Shambles indeed.
— gigicullen (@gigicullen0502) July 29, 2025
Its definitely now a position where we ‘boxed ourselves in’ – for most clubs this is bad – for a club that is EXPECTED to win every game and a bad start can cost the League as ‘momentum’ counts hugely in our League – next step ‘overpay’ for 5th choice winger
— Mitch Rapp (@rappmitch178) July 29, 2025
I think we need to wait until they publish the results of that survey that we done that time before we judge……
— Tetley (@Tetley1988) July 29, 2025
Money in the bank but mate. Some celtic fans actually measure that as success!
— GeneHunt81 (@GeneHunt81) July 29, 2025
Looking like 2 deadline day panic buys or loans AGAIN just like schlupp ?? utter joke. Our recruitment and scout team needs ripping up and rebuilding or the board needs to go. Either way fans need to make it clear thinking acceptable. It worked before. We got lawell out before.
— Adz ??? (@THE_ADZ_PLAYS) July 29, 2025
Plan A, sell players and don’t replace them, need to let sevco catch up.
Can you add a fourth choice to the options for your survey Joe: “Catastrophic Clusterf**k – This feels even worse than 2023.”?
Editor: Keeping that option for September 1, you know the Happy Clappers might be right with five top class signings getting announced tomorrow, then again…
Ha ha – fair point Joe!
This wage thief has to be removed ASAP.
which one?
Can someone tell me what the point of Nicholson is – what does he actually do for 800k p.a.?
How can BR put a stop to the sale of these guys but not khun? Is this legitimate? Has this really happened? I hate the board and won’t them gone but I’m not sure this is legit.