With only hours left in the summer transfer window, journalist Stephen McGowan has given an honest assessment of Celtic’s business.
McGowan questioned the club’s planning, calling the transfer work “bewildering and baffling.”
Celtic have brought in Michel-Ange Balikwisha for the attack, but key positions remain unfilled. A new striker and right winger were viewed as priorities from the start of the window, yet neither has been secured as deadline day arrives.
This slow progress comes after a damaging Champions League exit and a loss to Rangers, piling more pressure on Brendan Rodgers and his squad. McGowan says it is not just about who Celtic have failed to sign, but also the timing and reasoning behind their moves.
Despite having huge cash reserves and Champions League income already added from last season, fans share his frustration at the lack of bold investment when it was most needed. McGowan believes even if late deals are struck, the feeling of a missed chance will remain.
He said: (Scottish Football Podcast), “People knew Celtic needed a centre forward. They knew they needed a right winger, they knew they needed a left winger. They’ve got Balakwisha in, but it’s been a fairly indifferent start.
“They’ve still not got a right winger, they’ve still not got a striker, and maybe they’ll land one tomorrow. But too little, too late will be the cry, because they’re out of the Champions League, £20 million has gone down the drain, and they’ve failed to beat their biggest rivals for the first time in a year. So, you know, I don’t really know where the strategy has been.
“It’s been absolutely bewildering and baffling. Even if they do fix it tomorrow with a couple of marquee signings, there’ll still be that sense of what might have been for Celtic. Absolutely. The fans are understandably baffled and angry. They’ve got something like £70–80 million in the bank at last count.
“It was £65 million the last time. Since then, they’ve added Champions League money, fees for Nicholas Kühn, and sales the recruitment team managed to pull off. So it’s incomprehensible, other than this idea they have that the best deals come on the final days of the window.
“But look at the mess they’re making right now. Signing Kasper Dolberg, even if it happens, will probably mean overpaying — the same way they did for Adam Idah, the same way they did for Arne Engels and Auston Trusty last year. Fans are entitled to ask questions. Unfortunately, I don’t think they’ll get answers.”
McGowan’s comments reflect a wider feeling among supporters that Celtic have failed to capitalise on a position of strength. European elimination has already cost the club tens of millions, and dropping points domestically could prove even more damaging in the title race.
While the prospect of late signings remains on the table, the sense of frustration lingers. McGowan highlights that even if reinforcements arrive, the opportunity to enter the Champions League has already slipped away.
The focus now shifts to whether Celtic can salvage the situation before the deadline. A big-name striker or winger could change the mood, but as McGowan suggests, fans may continue to question the club’s long-term planning regardless of what happens on deadline day.
With the clock ticking, the pressure is firmly on the Celtic hierarchy to act, and to explain how a summer that began with promise has unravelled so quickly.
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5 responses
Corporate greed untrustworthy beneath contempt are just a few of the boards qualities stop giving them your money
I think two Board members need to be kicked out of Celtic sooner rather than later. Peter Lawwell, a very bad influence for years concerning recruitment, and Michael Nicholson who is clearly incompetent.
The problems run deeper than this, however. Is Brendan Rodgers picking these emergency buys on the last day of the season? Was he the one who overpaid for Idah, Engels and Trusty, or were they forced on him by some clown who doesn’t know what he’s doing? Has Rodgers requested the current targets, or is he once again just sitting dumb waiting to see what the suits serve up to him.
If Brendan Rodgers is not identifying the players he wants, and insisting that the be brought in, then he should also be sacked as incompetent. No manager worthy of the name would allow chancers to oversee team recruitment. That’s called dereliction of duty and it should be career ending. Big Ange didn’t sit back waiting to see what they supplied him with. He identified every player he wanted and took an active role in forcing the signings. That’s what proper managers do. He also played proper football and not boring garbage that puts viewers to sleep and disgraces the club.
Actually, we drew yesterday. That doesn’t constitute a “loss”.
‘A loss to Rangers’ Really well researched and planned article mate. My 3 year old could do better. Try another hobby ffs.
Peter Lawell and Michael Nicholson are same old, same old merchants with limited vision for the club. BR never showed Kyogo much encouragement and when asked about his coldness he stated, ‘He’s not a wee boy’. Even the kitman was told, “he should know his place” with max arrogance and minimum diplomacy. BR is about BR. The team look unhappy. They may need refreshed but dear me the performances in Europe and Ibrox show we need a midfield shake-up and striker. We should not be scraping around on the last day. If Dolberg does not want to come – my advice is forget him. It demonstrates a lack of research. A lack of ambition by the Board means last minute shopping in Desperation Land. Not good enough.