An alternative view on Celtic’s transfer window woes | OneFootball

The summer transfer window often brings with it a mix of anticipation, tension, and scrutiny — especially for a club like Celtic, whose ambitions are high and whose support is famously passionate and demanding…

In recent days, The Celtic Star has been critical of the club’s activity (or perceived lack thereof) in the transfer market. That criticism has stemmed not just from a lack of ‘marquee’ signings but also from a wider unease about whether the club is fully equipped — structurally and strategically — to take the next step, particularly in Europe.

But as always, it’s important to recognise and respect different viewpoints.

One of the more thoughtful pieces of correspondence we’ve received came from a reader who has previously communicated with the Celtic board and who offered a perspective not often aired – the logistical and strategic challenges the club faces in navigating an increasingly complex and competitive football marketplace.

This is someone who’s had insight into the workings of the Celtic boardroom and highlighted to us some uncomfortable realities that are perhaps often overlooked in supporter discourse.

Michael Nicholson, Chief Executive of Celtic FC looks on from the stands prior to the Premiership match between Celtic FC and St Mirren FC at Celtic Park on May 17, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Firstly, the issue of many clubs wanting the same players was raised. The market for top-tier talent is brutally competitive, and Celtic, operating within the financial limitations of the Scottish Premiership, faces a steep uphill battle.

Salaries and incentives are crucial. Many of the players who could improve Celtic are simply out of reach, both in terms of transfer fees and wage demands.

Playing in Scotland has limitations. The league’s profile, the presence of artificial pitches, and the risk of only two guaranteed Champions League games (if, heaven forbid, qualifying fails) are deterrents for certain targets.

Not every player is desperate to wear the Hoops. Even if we, as fans, can’t fathom it, not every talented player dreams of a move to Celtic Park and some who do come here soon want to move on. Perhaps the most recent example of that is with Nicolas Kuhn, but others may also fall into that bracket, such as Kyogo, Odsonne Edouard, Olivier Ntcham, Ryan Christie and others.

Celtic Manager Brendan Rodgers Celtic v St Mirren, Scottish Premiership, Celtic Park, 3 August 2025. Photo Stuart Wallace, IMAGO / Shutterstock (The Celtic Star)

Add to that the suggestion that Brendan Rodgers himself can be indecisive at times in finalising targets, and suddenly the delays and stalling in recruitment don’t seem quite so straightforward.

Then there’s the managerial contract narrative. Concerns about Rodgers not being offered an extension mirror historical parallels – Martin O’Neill once worked under a one-year rolling deal without drama. So perhaps the uproar this time is unnecessary — and the club sees no need to fix what isn’t broken.

These are certainly valid viewpoints and are also grounded in real-world complexity. Transfers aren’t just about willingness or ambition — they’re about timing, market conditions, negotiation power, and fit.

There’s a useful way to frame what seems to be happening — think of Brendan Rodgers as a film director casting for a major production. He has a clear vision for the leading role — he wants a star, someone with real presence who can elevate the whole project. He believes Celtic has the platform and the pull to attract that kind of talent.

Celtic FC coach Brendan Rodgers looks on before the Como Cup match between Al-Ahli and Celtic FC at Giuseppe Sinigaglia Stadium on July 26, 2025 in Como, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

But behind the scenes, the production team — in this case, the recruitment department and board — are lining up solid, dependable character actors. They’re experienced, affordable, and probably available now, but they don’t quite match the manager’s vision for a blockbuster.

Think of some of the players linked from Belgium and the Netherlands as those safe casting options.

Meanwhile, Rodgers is holding out for someone with more box office appeal — a player who turns heads and can transform the team’s European prospects. That kind of signing is harder to land, costs more, and attracts more suitors.

When asked on Friday by The Celtic Star, if potential targets were stalling to see if Celtic qualify for the Champions League, Rodgers denied it — but the dynamics suggest otherwise.

Peter Lawwell, Brendan Rodgers and Michael Nicholson (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

However, the gap between ambition and reality may not be about willingness, but about process and alignment. While the mitigating factors have merit, they also raise another important question. Why are we still relying on a model that hasn’t evolved with the game?

The original criticisms of the club — voiced by us and echoed across the support — rest not just on the frustration of missed targets, but on the belief that Celtic’s structure is part of the problem.

After all modern football has changed. Since 2015–16, the top clubs and even mid-tier ones have adapted. They’ve brought in sporting directors, technical staff, negotiation and recruitment experts with KPIs and strategic oversight.

Other clubs face similar hurdles — and overcome them. Clubs in similar or even less prestigious leagues still manage to punch above their weight in the market, and it’s not because their boardrooms are immune to the same issues. It’s because they’ve modernised.

Celtic also remains centralised. The argument goes that Desmond and the board refuse to decentralise control of footballing decisions, and that this concentration of power ultimately stifles agility, ambition, and competitiveness in the key moments that matter. And once we try to move up the food chain — to compete for top-30 calibre European players — the limitations of our current system are exposed.

This is where the criticism deepens. It’s not that Celtic can’t do better. It’s that we choose not to restructure in a way that could allow us to.

Yes, we have money. Yes, the board can get smaller deals done as we saw with this summer’s transfer business and under Mark Lawwell’s term as head of football operations.

Peter Lawwell, Brendan Rodgers and Michael Nicholson (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

But when the club needs to step up — to move from a team that gets into the Champions League to one that competes in it — we seem unable to break through. Is that on Brendan Rodgers? Perhaps in part. But it’s also about whether Celtic , as an institution, has the capability to compete in a new footballing era.

Both arguments have merit — and in truth, they aren’t mutually exclusive. The market is more difficult than ever. But that’s exactly why the club must evolve to meet the demands.

It’s not enough to say it’s hard. It’s always been hard. And spoiler alert, it will get harder still. Celtic, as a club with a proud history and European ambition, needs to be structured to meet the modern football world head-on.

The Celtic Board. Celtic Champions 2025. Dundee United v Celtic, 26 April 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star).

We at The Celtic Star will continue to be critical when we believe criticism is warranted. But we’ll also offer space for reasoned, informed views from supporters who want to contribute to the wider discourse in good faith.  Whether you’re in the boardroom, in the stands, or anywhere in between — the debate about Celtic’s future direction belongs to all of us.

We invite further correspondence, from all sides. Because the best path forward begins with an honest conversation and with debate.

Niall J

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