Celtic made no official move for Tawanda Maswanhise during the January transfer window, despite strong interest from supporters who had hoped the club might test Motherwell’s resolve.
Maswanhise has been one of the standout performers in the Scottish Premiership this season, with his form marking him out as one of the most exciting attacking talents in the division.
While Celtic ultimately stayed on the sidelines, there was no shortage of interest elsewhere as clubs across the UK and Europe monitored his situation.
Motherwell, however, were unmoved. The Fir Park club made it clear throughout deadline day that Maswanhise was not for sale at any price, a stance that drew admiration even from rival supporters.
Belgian side Anderlecht attempted to strike a deal late on, while Blackburn Rovers were also linked with an ambitious move. Neither came close to prising the forward away.
Motherwell manager Jens Berthel Askou has since confirmed that, despite the noise, the club were never tempted to cash in.
Speaking about the window, he said: “Tawanda has attracted an extreme amount of interest from all over the world – and from the UK. There have been offers but they have been at an amount that is nowhere near the valuation put on him. It has been very easy to say, ‘Well no, now is not the time to sell’.
“Did anyone try late on? Yes, but there was no discussion. The plan was never for him to leave now. It wasn’t me who needed backing. It was a club decision – we want to see if we can build on the momentum and the squad we have.
“Tawanda is really happy. I have had contact with him throughout the window and he had a big smile at training on Tuesday. He is excited to kick on and maybe a bit relieved that there will be no speculation about that any more. He is happy to be here. He knows the best chance to be top scorer in Scotland is to be here.
“We have good open dialogue with the players and we make plans for them and with them. We will make sure they develop while they are here and then find the right moment for them to leave. He’s happy, we are happy and it hasn’t been complicated.” [The Sun]
Looking ahead, it will be interesting to see how Celtic assess Maswanhise in the summer, particularly if he continues to score freely and underline his status as one of the SPFL’s brightest talents.
