Celtic have received much praise from pundits and former players in the media for the shrewd transfer business over the years.
But it’s not very often you hear the hierarchy of rival teams in the Scottish Premiership delivering praise to the club. Especially as they have been so dominant.
That’s exactly what Hearts Sporting Director, Joe Savage has done. Savage is desperate to improve the Edinburgh club’s business in the transfer market and pointed to Celtic as a great role model in that department.
Especially after they made a huge profit on Portuguese winger, Jota.
Savage said [The National print edition page 37], “Every recruitment department in the world wants to sign 21, 22, 23-year-olds.
“They play here for a year or two, and get flipped for x amount, but it is very rare it happens.
“The odd occasion [it does]. Look at Celtic with Jota – signed for £6m, sold for £25m. That’s brilliant recruitment.”
Celtic’s financial position is extremely healthy partly down to the fact that they can post, develop and then sell on players just like Jota.
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And they have been doing it for decades now. Jota is the one in a long line of successful transfers that Celtic have used to keep themselves self-sustainable.
And he won’t be the last. Honduran winger, Luis Palma, has been tipped to land a big move after impressing with goals and assists in the short period he has been at the club.
And Denmark international, Matt O’Riley, is another who has been told that he will go for big money after his performances in the Champions League.
It’s a model that has served Celtic well and looking at the other players in the squad like Alistair Johnston and Liel Abada, it will continue to do so for many more years yet.
In other news, ‘Best midfielder in Scotland’… Peter Martin says Celtic have a player who’s better than Matt O’Riley