Celtic and recruitment are two words that always generate their fair share of discussion among the support and in wider media circles.
Over recent years, the Bhoys have adopted a strategy of identifying talented players with room to develop with the aim of one day selling them on for significant profit.
Jeremie Frimpong, Jota, Kristoffer Ajer, and Odsonne Edouard are just some examples of this phenomenon, though there are also evident risk factors applied to this chosen mode of operation.
Undoubtedly, there has also been an underlying frustration from some fans regarding Celtic’s relatively modest transfer spend despite having the financial capability to attract a high-calibre quality of individual.
With the globalisation of football enabling the European elite to widen the gap on the field, the Bhoys’ prospects of being able to make a fist of the Champions League group stages have lessened in stature.
The club remain an attractive proposition for players to showcase their talent on the biggest stage; nevertheless, we haven’t always maximised our potential from a recruitment standpoint either.
Head of First Team Scouting Mark Lawwell and Lead First Team Scout Joe Dudgeon will both leave Parkhead at the end of the season amid a patchy record of transfer success stories.
Meanwhile, fans will also remember a similar tale during Lee Congerton’s spell as Head of Recruitment, coinciding with Brendan Rodgers’ first tenure at the club.
Lee Congerton makes sharp barb at Celtic’s recruitment structure
Congerton spent two years at Celtic before departing for Leicester City in the summer of 2019 and has since spent time as Atalanta’s sporting director before taking up a similar role at Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli, where he now works.
Speaking to The Telegraph, the 50-year-old has opened up on his time at Parkhead, making some very intriguing observations on operating under Peter Lawwell.
Furthermore, he also claimed he had a role in trying to bring Christopher Nkunku (now at Chelsea) and Moussa Diaby (now at Aston Villa), who were both in Paris Saint-Germain’s youth system at the time, to Celtic before leaving under a cloud.
He commented on Celtic’s financial reality and why he left the club in addition, stating: “At Celtic, we had no money.”
Continuing on, he said: “Peter Lawwell is a nice man, he’s an accountant. Brendan spoke to me and said we needed pace and power, speed. We all know PSG has an amazing youth programme with players at the time who were never going to play for PSG.
“Two of the other players we tried to sign during my time were (Moussa) Diaby, who is now at Aston Villa, and (Christopher) Nkunku, who is now at Chelsea.
“But there were several players I didn’t want to be anywhere near them, and that is why I left. Peter knows that, and so did Brendan. Atalanta is very different.”
Celtic fans have often been mystified at Congerton’s spell at the club, with signings such as Martin Compper, Youssouf Mulumbu, Oliver Burke and Jeremy Toljan, among others, coming in for stinging criticism during his period of employment in Glasgow.
Nevertheless, we have now heard some of his version of events, which make for captivating reading a few years on.
Celtic fans want to see a clear recruitment structure this summer
We don’t know who will be in charge of Celtic’s recruitment this summer yet, though fans will be clear about their demands regardless of what transpires in the Scottish Premiership this season.
The Bhoys must aim to strengthen key positions swiftly, and finding a replacement for goalkeeper Joe Hart is an urgent priority. We only have a relatively short break between the off-season and pre-season, so it would make sense to acquire players early to provide an acclimatisation period if needed.
On the other hand, if we are to lose the likes of Matt O’Riley, for example, it would make sense to conduct a deal before competitive action resumes in 2024/25, allowing Celtic time to source a replacement and subsequently avoiding limbo over any individual’s future at Parkhead.
Trimming excess fat from the squad will also be necessary to facilitate incomings; however, Celtic may need to speculate to accumulate on the transfer front and shouldn’t be shy about doing so.
This is due to the restructured Champions League format, which will put more strain on Rodgers’ men if we qualify for the group stages, either automatically or via qualifiers, depending on our final league position this term.