Dutch Arthur Daley’s dodgy scheme won’t fool Celtic

Yes some clubs should conduct their transfer business better, but others should be minding their own…

Jakob Breum

ZUTPHEN , 26-07-2025 , Sportcomplex Hanzepark , season 2025 / 2026 , Dutch Pre-season football . friendly match between Go Ahead Eagles and Al-Duhail GA Eagles player Jakob Breum celebrating the goal scored 4-2 Go Ahead Eagles – Al-Duhail friendly. Photo IMAGO

Celtic were severely ridiculed in the Scottish mainstream media today with all the major outlets including Scottish Sun gleefully reporting on the words of Go Ahead Eagles figure Jan Willem Van Dop who literally laughed at our recent haggling over a proposed deal for Danish star Jakob Breum.

The Director of the Dutch Eredivisie side described Celtic’s bid for the highly rated 21 year old as wide of the mark, and not only chortled at our dealings, but said we should learn to conduct our business like theRangers who recently acquired a player from the Dutch side.

Jakob Breum

ZUTPHEN , 26-07-2025 , Sportcomplex Hanzepark , season 2025 / 2026 , Dutch Pre-season football . friendly match between Go Ahead Eagles and Al-Duhail GA Eagles player Jakob Breum Al-Duhail player Jean Castelletto Go Ahead Eagles – Al-Duhail friendly. Photo IMAGO

One can only hope for Van Dop’s sake that he asked for a form of payment up front from our rivals, but anyway Van Dop should be looking at his own behaviour before casting aspersions on any other club

I’m not for one minute sticking up for our money men, but maybe just maybe our club along with several others don’t wish to part with a substantial amount for a player who will be available for three times less in January? Football is a business after all.

It’s no secret that our club are somewhat reluctant when it comes to any dealing with recruitment incomings, but a fellow club revealing our dealings can be viewed as amateurish, incompetent and also a little bit petty.  Hopefully Celtic wait this one out and get the player for the reduced fee in January. Has any other club been battering down the door at Go Ahead Eagles for Breum? If Jan Willem Van Dop gets his over-inflated asking price then fair play to him.

GA Eagles player Jakob Breum

ZALTBOMMEL , 19-07-2025 , Sportpark De Watertoren , season 2025 / 2026 , Dutch Pre-season football . friendly match between PAOK and Go Ahead Eagles final result 3-3, GA Eagles player Jakob Breum. PAOK – Go Ahead Eagles friendly. Photo IMAGO

There’s a saying in football that every player has his value and clearly Breum’s is closer to Celtic’s valuation than the Go Ahead one. It’s an interesting proposition transferring the sell-on clause you agreed with the player’s previous club to any prospective buyer because you simply don’t want to pay it yourselves. Nice stunt if you can get away with it but trying it on with Celtic isn’t the brightest idea.

There are bigger suckers in Glasgow who seemed happy enough to do business with the Dutch Arthur Daley – and they are well matched when you think about it.

Just an Ordinary Bhoy

Yesterday Conor Spence attended the Celtic fan media conference at Celtic Park to represent The Celtic Star and to speak to Celtic legend James Forrest alongside supporters from four other fan media outlets. Here’s the video…

READ THIS FROM NIALL J…Celtic’s robust financials celebrated but Simply Wall doesn’t tell the full story

CELTIC IN THE EIGHTIES BY DAVID POTTER, FOREWORD BY DANNY McGRAIN is published by Celtic Star Books on the fifth day of September. You can pre-order now to guarantee your copy which will be signed by Danny McGrain, with just a limited number of signed copies still available, although they are selling very quickly. It’s looking like the signed copies will run out over the course of this weekend so if you are intending to purchase David Potter’s final Celtic book then why not do it today to get the benefit of a Danny McGrain signed copy!

Thank you to everyone who has already pre-ordered and don’t worry, your copy will be signed by the legendary Celtic and Scotland star who captained Celtic for the early years of the 1980s.

And there’s another great benefit for readers who pre-order their copy of Celtic in the Eighties. You will also receive a copy of an earlier David Potter book – Celtic’ Icicle – Alec McNair – which you’ll receive for FREE when you pre-order with Celtic in the Eighties.

Danny McGrain lifts the trophy in 1981

Danny McGrain lifts the trophy in 1981. Photo The Celtic Wiki

So  you get two great Celtic books by David Potter and better still the postage is only charged on one. Offer available for a short period only as we have a very limited number of copies of David’s wonderful book on Alec McNair left.

So why have one brilliant David Potter book when you can enjoy two? And if you’re planning on buying Celtic in the Eighties why not get your copy signed by Celtic legend Danny McGrain?

Click on the image below to order…

Celtic in the Eighties by David Potter

Celtic in the Eighties by David Potter. Foreword by Danny McGrain. Published on Celtic Star Books on 5 September 2025. Click on image to pre-order.

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Help raise funds for Celtic Youth Academy by playing the Celtic Pools Weekly Lottery and you could win up to £25,000. The lottery is £1 per week. Click on image to join.

About Author

An ordinary everyday Celtic supporters hailing and still residing in Govan in the shadows of the enemy. I’m a season ticket holder. I Witnessed my first Celtic game in 1988 and have attended when I can ever since. Growing up in the 90s I witnessed Celtic at their lowest, and now appreciate the historic success we enjoy today. I enjoy writing about this wonderful football club and hopefully will continue to do so. I’ve always been a keen writer and initially started this a hobby. My ambition is to one day become as good an author as my fellow Celtic Star colleagues.

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5 Comments

  1. Gordon Raeburn on

    Stop making excuses for the arseholes on the board. They deserve to be ridiculed.

    • Eh! Why is that so you think Celtic should pay £6.5M for a player will be available for roughly £2.2M in 10 months. Celtic put a bid in a month ago and regardless of hearsay none since. They are desperate for money though why has no other club who are interested put a bid of that amount?? Because a its sill and he is not worth that amount.

      It does not matter how much you have in the bank you do not waste money, however it seems some Celtic fans would love to see Celtic waste money.

      There is over 3 weeks of the transfer window left and there will be additions to the 7 players brought in already.

  2. The Celtic board deserves all they get for their Lowball offers. If they say the asking price and we don’t agree then we move on to another target. Incidentally, where are our other targets and why are we dithering? Our board is a laughing stock.