A good transfer window is a must for every football club not just Celtic, it’s imperative you get not just the right numbers but also the right quality in. This transfer window has so far been quite busy with no fewer than six faces coming through the door, with a few more expected.
The summer of 2006 was no different and Gordon Strachan starting his second campaign in charge bolstered his side for an assault on four fronts with three very impressive signings.
Thomas Gravesen, Lee Naylor and Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink were all signed by Gordon for a combined fee of £6 million. Not a lot by today’s standards and not a lot then it has to be said. Both Gravesen and Hesselink were internationals for the Danish and Dutch sides respectively. Naylor was a former England under 21 international with English top flight experience, so they were big captures indeed.
To sign players from Real Madrid and PSV in Gravesen and Hesselink’s case was a big deal and signalled Gordon’s intent to achieve big things as Celtic manager.
That he did and the three of them helped Gordon’s side qualify for the last 16 in that very season. Gravesen in the end turned out to be underwhelming but still had his moments. While both Naylor and Hesselink excelled for a few years in the hoops.
You could say it was probably one of our best or arguably even our best transfer window of recent times. However with a couple of weeks to go this one could end up even better. Fingers crossed.
Just an Ordinary Bhoy