COMMENT
The new year is just over a week old and already Celtic have wasted no time in ensuring their squad are as strong as possible for the second half of the season.
With a crunch title battle heating up in Scotland, Rangers on the coattails of the Hoops, Brendan Rodgers and his transfer team at Parkhead know how important it is that they bring in top talents to bolster their side and sink the Gers’ hopes.
Already the Bhoys have Oliver Burke, Timothy Weah and Vakoun Issouf Bayo, the latter striker the first permanent signing after two temporary deals were signed for the former pair.
The Scottish Sun report that Celtic splashed £2million on the Ivory Coast forward and in a revealing statement, transfer rivals Rapid Vienna admitted that the Hoops blew them out the water on a financial basis to seal a deal.
Sporting director Fredy Bickel told the newspaper: “He was a target, I already made that clear. But we knew from the beginning it would be very difficult with the competition being Celtic.
“We didn’t give up, but we have to be realistic. Even a £1.5 million transfer would have been a problem for us, but that wasn’t the case with Celtic.”
Blitzing rivals aside with money to secure a signing? That does not sound like the Celtic of old, who were usually left picking up bargains here and there to try and build up a top quality squad.
It might only be a petty £2million – peanuts in today’s markets – but there is no doubting that the Celtic faithful need to herald club chief Peter Lawwell for his willingness to engage, and win, a bidding war.
With the money from Moussa Dembele’s exit no doubt burning a hole in his pocket, he was sensible but ambitious with this move and the fans will be hoping he can perform as well as their former French star.
Celtic have not gone head-to-head with many teams in the transfer market before – is this a sign of changing times?