The Gaping Hole Called Reality – Celtic’s Transfer Policy

Whoever thought they’d use Stereo MC lyrics to describe Celtic’s transfer and contract renewal policy. While most people are focused on the goings on of the January transfer window, I look to the summer and see this gaping hole.

Collectively, Celtic look like creating a giant size crater in their first team which might actually start in January. Some big players are heading for the exit doors at Celtic Park. While some will say certain players are coming to the end or past their best playing days, they are not taking everything into account.

Let’s start with Scott Brown. The invincible captain has received well wishes from every Celtic fan should he chose to move on. Who will replace him? If people are looking at his last Glasgow derby display as the player, they need to replace they’ll be very short-changed. Brown brings so much more to Celtic than the 90 minutes he plays in the Hoops. You can see all the younger players look up to him; you can see he takes them under his wing. You see the trust the current manager and the ones before him have in their captain. His experience of winning is irreplaceable. The fact that we have let one of our most decorated players, our most capped European player run down his contract is ludicrous. Scott Brown may be coming to the end of his career, but he still has another season in him, and it’s bizarre that Celtic are not moving mountains to keep him.

Maybe the Celtic board are doing everything to keep players at the club that we don’t know about. But, there were way too many players at the start of this season with expiring contracts.

Mikael Lustig looks like he will join Scott Brown out the gates. Lustig seems much more of a spent force concerning his fitness and running. He has been found out on more than one occasion. That been said, he has been a big part of what Celtic have done over the past seven years, will the board spend the money it needs to spend to bring in a ready-made replacement.

Dedryck Boyata is off. Shock, shock, horror. It might not comes as a shock, but it will bring horror. The big Belgian is going to leave a void that needs to be filled. If Boyata leaves in the summer, he’ll be more than likely joined by his centre-half partner Filip Benkovic. The Benkovic loan deal expires in the summer. Now, this void is a chasm.

Celtic’s signing policy is to sign young players with potential, give them experience and turn them into stars. Not the worse conveyer belt in the world….if it works. And it has worked, but for now, Celtic might have to abandon that policy and focus on bringing in experienced players who can walk into the first team.