Celtic are keen to secure new additions this summer and there is a possibility Brendan Rodgers could turn to the Scottish Premiership to freshen up the squad.
By now, most supporters will have already seen reports that the Bhoys are tracking Dundee midfielder Luke McCowan following his impressive campaign on Tayside, registering ten goals and five assists in 41 appearances.
In January, Aberdeen striker Bojan Miovski was widely mentioned as another potential target, but nothing came of speculation and he still remains at Pittodrie.
Turning to the Scottish top-flight for signings has been a well-trodden avenue for Celtic in the past; nevertheless, Benjamin Siegrist was the last man to come in from another club in the league back in 2022, so how viable is this market for Celtic this summer?
The benefits of Celtic buying from the Scottish Premiership
First and foremost, any prospective arrivals from the Scottish Premiership know what they are walking into.
Despite some snobbery shown towards the league from elsewhere, it is a highly competitive environment that many established individuals from south of the border and further afield have struggled in. I don’t need to name names; you all know some players I am talking about.
Moreover, playing for Celtic is a pressure that needs to be understood, which those already operating in the division will be acutely aware of, given their dominant nature across the 21st century.
Scottish players, although not the central point of this piece, can be handy additions to the Hoops’ homegrown quota for European competitions.
They are also steeped in the football culture north of the border, so they don’t need any introduction to the Glasgow Derby and Celtic’s insatiable hunger for silverware.
There is also the tried and tested element, especially regarding strikers. This isn’t an exact science, but if someone has scored 25 goals in a season with another Scottish Premiership side, who is to say they can’t repeat that feat at Parkhead?
Take Scott McDonald, Leigh Griffiths and Anthony Stokes as rough examples, as I know the practice of the Bhoys recruiting from their league is a dying art. Of course, you can buy prolific forwards from anywhere, which brings me on to the flipside of the argument.
Why Celtic often look to other markets for talent
To some, it may defy logic that Celtic primarily shop in foreign markets, but it makes a lot of sense when you examine the bigger picture.
Simply put, a lot of the time, there is better value to be found in the global sphere. Kyogo Furuhashi arrived at Celtic for £4.6 million in 2021 and has gone on to register 73 goals in 113 appearances for the club [Transfermarkt].
Now, casting an eye to this summer. January-linked striker Miovski is believed to be at the centre of a transfer battle with several clubs, including Bologna and surprise contenders Birmingham City. The first outfit mentioned are plotting for his services that could amount to around £7 million, per Alan Nixon.
I am only using this to play devil’s advocate. Miovski is a fantastic asset for Aberdeen that would enrich Celtic’s forward line; however, on a theoretical basis, if he pitched up at Parkhead, the North Macedonian international would become the joint-second most expensive signing in club history.
Granted, my explanation may be a bit far-fetched; regardless, you start to see why Celtic often shop away from Scotland.
There is essentially a tax attached by clubs in the same league who don’t want their best players to come back and hurt them in future, something you can’t blame them for whatsoever.
Rodgers will know there is a balance to be found between both arguments this summer, though it is an intriguing topic to delve into.
