With the January transfer window now closed Celtic’s new CEO might have been forgiven for moving onto matters other than squad personnel for a short while at least, but Ange Postecoglou has confirmed in his Sunday newspaper interviews across various newspapers this morning including The Scotsman that Michael Nicholson still has contractual issues to attend to, namely the permanent signings of Jota and Cameron Carter-Vickers.
“If I say we’re closer, it’s as if something’s happened. Those discussions will be taking place over the course of the next period. Michael is at the forefront of that with the players themselves. It will take care of itself.”
“Experiences like Wednesday will help but we all live in a romanticised version of life. But it usually comes down to what drives the individual. These things are great but then finances come into it, other factors can influence the decision.
“I’m not going to try and convince anyone to stay. If you don’t understand how special it is to be a part of this place, nothing I’m going to say will change that.
“I know Cam and Jota love representing this football club and what it’s all about. They’re contributing right now and that’s all I need to see. They’re enjoying it. But it could be others. People are talking about new signings but we might lose a couple because we’re going so well.
“That’s part of football. I won’t lose so much sleep over it. While they’re under my charge, I’ll just get them to be the best they can be.”
There can be few unhappy fans when it comes to the standard of recruitment at Celtic over the last two transfer windows, and if, as Alex Ferguson famously said, a 50% success rate is seen as the benchmark, then Celtic are exceeding all expectations.
The fact only Callum McGregor and Greg Taylor were at the club last season, from those selected in Wednesday’s brilliant Glasgow Derby win, just shows the standard of player which has come to Celtic since last summer, but it also underlines the work Celtic’s new CEO has had to carry out to ensure the players the manager targets actually get through the door without the procrastination and interference that has been evident in the past.
Now Michael Nicholson possibly has his biggest challenge and most expensive deals to conclude in the coming weeks and months. Alongside Carl Starfelt, Carter-Vickers has been an excellent addition to the Celtic backline, meanwhile Jota has blown us all away with his impact in the attacking third.
Both players won’t come cheap, with Spurs and Benfica both looking for substantial fees for their players, you’d also assume wage demands would be similarly expensive, but considering we’d be signing two players who are already performing, know the demands of the club and appear to be enjoying their time at Celtic, there is little risk beyond the financial aspect to concluding these deals.
As ever the final decision will lie with both players, and Ange Postecoglou has always maintained he will not try and sell Celtic to any potential signing target, however if both choose to commit to Celtic beyond their current loan deals it will be another sign that Ange Postecoglou is being backed in the transfer market and a further indication the working relationship between CEO and manager is very different at Celtic now than it has been in recent seasons.
Niall J
🗣️👥Celtic are in final talks with Benfica over the permanent transfer of Jota.
✅Celtic are confident that they will keep Jota in the team permanently.#CelticFC #ForeverGreen #Benfica https://t.co/mZWH2JeE6Y pic.twitter.com/sWocTjibTz
— Ekrem KONUR (@Ekremkonur) February 6, 2022
