Celtic supporters are excited at what the transfer window could have to offer this summer and will hope their faith can be repaid.
The reigning Scottish Premiership champions are preparing to juggle domestic endeavours alongside competing in the new Champions League format in 2024/25, so there is no time to waste on the recruitment front.
With anticipation comes expectation; that much is clear. Brendan Rodgers has already delivered two trophies at Celtic, and he will want to add more silverware to enhance his dominant reputation in Scottish football.
There has been a sense of quiet over the last few weeks, the calm before the storm, if you will. Nevertheless, the Bhoys will be active in the market once they get their ducks in a row, make no mistake.
The reality of transfer fees for Celtic this summer
Yesterday, reports broke suggesting that Celtic-linked goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher wouldn’t be allowed to leave Liverpool for any less than £25 million this summer, essentially pricing the Bhoys out of a move.
As fans, it is easy enough to identify that he was never a realistic target due to the riches of the Premier League. Rodgers’ men don’t have that money to spend in the market, rendering the prospect of him pitching up at Parkhead a non-starter.
Despite this, there is an appetite from the Celtic support to see the barometer of the club’s average transfer fee spend increase.
In Rodgers’ first window back in Glasgow, Hyunjun Yang, Odin Thiago Holm, Marco Tilio and Hyeokkyu Kwon all arrived in Glasgow for between £1 million to 2.5 million — four out of nine of the Hoops’ arrivals (excluding Tomoki Iwata).
Evaluating their collective contribution, none of the players mentioned have established themselves as nailed-on starters. That isn’t a criticism against them; they are talented and need time to develop.
Regardless, you pay for what you get. Celtic need individuals ready to step in and establish themselves straight away, at least if they want to have a realistic chance of European progression.
Stating the obvious, nobody is expecting the club to spend £25 million, but operating in £4 million to £6 million territory shouldn’t be out of reach, given the financial capital available at Parkhead.
Whether that happens is another question. Truthfully, only time will tell on that front as the window continues to develop.