Transfer Talk

“I have a Celtic jersey at home. The games against Celtic were special and I want to remember them. Celtic Park is a tough place to go to, it is never easy to get a result there. It is the best atmosphere in Europe and we all want to experience that again.”

He’s practically begging. Can’t wait to see him on the plastic pitches away at Killie, Livingston and Hamilton

 

He used to get on my supporters bus

 

Rosario Loyal

 

Neil Lennon insists his transfer plans do not hinge on progress in the Champions League.

But the Celtic gaffer admits reaching the glamour group stage could tip the scales in him securing additional quality for his ranks.


Lennon says it’s all about prestige and not pound notes as his side go into battle against Ferencvaros on Wednesday night.

Parkhead chiefs are currently working on deals for immediate targets such as Motherwell’s David Turnbull and Brighton defender Shane Duffy.


Lennon and the recruitment team have other irons in the fire and the boss has revealed that some business could be concluded nearer to the early October deadline.

The Celtic gaffer is adamant that dealings won’t be affected by the outcome of the Champions League qualifiers, but does confess that making the groups may open fresh doors in the market.



Asked if Celtic needed to bank group stage cash to fund his plans, Lennon said: “No, we don’t need to get it.



If we get in the Champions League then it puts us in an even stronger position to attract players and have more finances available, but financially we are in a decent healthy position at the minute.



Maybe from a footballing point of view the player might say the Champions League is a big carrot to come here, so it’s important to get Champions League football for so many different reasons and that’s another one to add.

“We have our eye on a couple of potential signings, but we are nowhere near fulfilling any of those at the minute. I can’t really add anything more to that.




I would hope that we are not going to lose any more players. I am happy with the squad, but I would like to make a couple of more additions, as I’ve said over the past few weeks.

“A lot of these things can be protracted and we may look at later on in the window when we might be able to get better value for money for players as well.”

While describing Turnbull as “good player” after previously admitting the enquiry over Duffy, Lennon insists he cannot allow transfer issues to detract his focus from tonight’s massive contest against the Hungarians and his deep desire to get the club back to the group stage of Europe’s elite tournament.

He said: “I’m getting all this speculation and chat and rumours and this is the age we live in.

“It’s torture. I have to concentrate on the job at hand.



It would just be a good achievement to get there [to groups]. I’ve done it twice and I want it for the club and for the players.

“We have focused really hard and knuckled down Sunday, Monday and Tuesday and are in our own little bubble, so nothing is getting in or out and our concentration levels are very good.



Lennon, has confirmed he’ll have discussions with club medical chiefs in the next few days after FIFA gave clubs the power to prevent stars leaving for international duty if they face quarantine upon return.
...

 

There's nothing contentious about what Lennon said but as usual the papers try to spin something.

He's said signings are NOT contingent on qualification to the Champions League but that if we do then quite rightly he'll be asking for some of the £30m+ and it could be a carrot to attract players that have doubts about coming to Scotland.

This is a classic example of why we should be giving the Scottish media nothing in relation to our transfer strategy. Treat them with contempt.

 

If we are indeed 'nowhere close' to signing anyone at present, it is a disgrace.

Are we going to wait until we are a quarter of the way through what should be an historic league campaign, and, mostly likely, eliminated from the Champions League, before we sign a centre-half?

We knew that Šimunović was leaving at the end of last season. Why was there no contingency in place?

 

I do believe the Turnbull deal is real close, i think we are probably at least a week away from hearing about a cb

 

Turnbull shouldn't be a priority right now, in my opinion. We need a centre half and left back desperately. Probably another winger too before another midfielder. Hope they are working behind the scenes on all of this

 

Pione Sisto available for 3m.

 

Would do damage for us..

 

Yes pls. Been wanting us to sign him for years.

 

That should be an absolute no brainer. Able to play on both flanks and an absolute whippet.

 

It will be loan FC now.

 

Dog * coming.

 

Goes without saying that our ability to attract a certain calibre of player has just taken a huge dent.

But there needs to be a reaction here. We’ve asked for it before and it’s went unanswered. But this seasons matter more than any other.

If we fail to strengthen then I don’t fancy our chances of winning the league. There’s not much between us and the Huns anymore and it only gets closer if Edouard leaves (which I think will happen now).

We need to go and strengthen in several positions:

CB
LB/LWB
CDM/CM
CAM
RM
ST