Celtic are approaching the end of another successful campaign, which could be topped off by claiming the Scottish Cup this weekend.
Brendan Rodgers has successfully led the Bhoys to their third successive Scottish Premiership title; however, most supporters will admit this season has presented challenges along the way.
When the Irishman was appointed, Celtic fans were excited about the level of financial backing he would receive in the transfer window.
Some believed that he wouldn’t have returned to Parkhead without certain assurances. Per Transfermarkt, the Hoops have shelled out roughly £22,036,653 (conversion from Euro currency) on playing assets since Rodgers’ arrival.
On the face of it, that isn’t a meagre amount of money spent compared to some previous windows at Celtic, so where did concerns over recruitment come from and where can the reigning champions improve on this front heading into another pivotal market period?
Celtic’s scope for improvement on the recruitment front
Grievances over transfer incomings haven’t originated overnight. However, I will let bygones be bygones as we hone in on this season as a point of discussion.
In total, Celtic brought in Luis Palma, Odin Thiago Holm, Maik Nawrocki, Gustaf Lagerbielke, Hyeokkyu Kwon, Paulo Bernardo, Hyunjun Yang, Marco Tilio and Nathaniel Phillips on a brief loan last summer. Republic of Ireland international Adam Idah and Nicolas Kuhn arrived in January.
From a personal standpoint, I think some of the earlier frustrations come from the simple fact that roughly half of the individuals mentioned haven’t been first-team regulars, at least at the rate many anticipated, representing a mixed hit rate regarding new additions.
This article wasn’t entirely intended to address that issue; the purpose of the last two lines was merely to lay the groundwork for potential improvement scenarios. So, how do Celtic maximise their scope to identify talent?
There isn’t a magic solution, and the club aren’t going to scrap their model of bringing in signings with a view to developing them and selling assets on for profit.
Unfortunately, for every Matt O’Riley, there will be someone who doesn’t have the same impact; nevertheless, there is room to have both rough diamonds and more established players in the building simultaneously to give the Bhoys the best of both worlds, helping to strike a healthy balance.
Take replacing Joe Hart once he retires as an example. Wolfsburg goalkeeper Koen Casteels and Trabzonspor’s Ugurcan Cakir have been mooted as potential successors to the former England international, leading us on nicely.
Celtic and shifting the dial with their Champions League riches
Both stoppers mentioned above are of a high calibre, but crucially, they exist in a market Celtic have proven they can shop in. Jota, Cameron Carter-Vickers, and even Odsonne Edouard are examples of how, when the opportunity arises, speculating to accumulate where necessary does have major benefits.
Granted, competition for players is fierce, with financially advantageous options expanding for prospective targets to consider worldwide.
However, the Hoops have just secured their third automatic Champions League jackpot on the trot, this one being more lucrative than ever before.
Now, the reality is that two more fixtures lay in store; TV revenue is increasing by 21% without even factoring in gate receipts and other forms of commercial income, adding to the estimated figure exceeding £30 million that Celtic made in TV money alone from the 2023/24 edition of the tournament.
There is an opportunity to shift the dial on wages and transfer fees within reason. This could provide the club with a platform to compete in Europe, keeping their model of signing stars of the future intact while also being an attractive proposition for individuals in their prime seeking a different challenge.
Undoubtedly, there would be a lot of heavy lifting required to make this work, as selling a vision is never as easy as it sounds, but if the shackles aren’t loosened at some point, you know the result.
Celtic’s recruitment is going to be a fascinating endeavour once the window opens in a few weeks’ time.