The first thing to note when considering the transfer rumour surrounding Cameron Carter-Vickers today is that the source, Larry Henry Jr is an American sports journalist with a clearly established link directly to the Celtic player and United States international and also his advisors.
So while there are numerous rumours floating around the internet and on newsprint at the moment, this one seems credible and it’s certainly not one that Celtic supporters will be getting excited about.
Cameron Carter-Vickers has been a sensational signing for Celtic and is a player that Brendan Rodgers will not want to lose. That said, every Celtic supporter realises that every player in the squad is sellable if the money is right, and we witnessed that truism in action last summer with the £25m transfer of Jota to Al-Ittihad.
Larry Henry Jr’s update named three Premier League clubs being interested in Celtic’s ‘Big Strong Man’.
“West Ham, Brentford, and Nottingham Forest are all targeting Celtic and #USMNT defender Cameron Carter-Vickers, a source close to the player confirmed to me today. CCV has made 110 combined apps for Celtic, lifting five trophies including domestic treble last season.”
Celtic perhaps have too many central defenders at the club. Last summer saw the exit of CCV’s defensive partner Carl Starfelt with the Sweden international moving to la Liga side Celta Vigo. He was replaced by the two players, Maik Nawrocki who arrived from Legia Warsaw and Gustaf Lagerbielke who signed from Swedish side IF Elfsborg.
Then Liam Scales, who had returned for what looked like a brief spell from his loan at Aberdeen and looked to be heading back to Pittodrie with a very persistent Barry Robson pestering Brendan Rodgers for a decision, somehow managed to find himself in the team and the Irishman has grabbed his opportunity with both hands and is now the established first pick for the left hand side of Celtic’s central defence.
Lagerbielke was rumoured to being surplus to the manager’s immediate requirements with talk of a loan move to Italy around a week or so ago. That though has quietened down and one wonders if this triple whammy interest from Premier League sides is the reason for that.
If CCV wants away then Celtic will have a valuation that has to be met but that shouldn’t be a problem for Premier League sides where apparently a reserve goalkeeper is now worth £20m. Works both ways that kind of thing.
That’s certainly the kind of money Celtic should be getting for Cameron Carter-Vickers if any deal is to be sanctioned. Brendan Rodgers went into this window talking about quality coming in the door, now it looks like the quality we’ve already got is about to be reduced.
West Ham, Brentford, and Nottingham Forest are all targeting Celtic and #USMNT defender Cameron Carter-Vickers, a source close to the player confirmed to me today.
CCV has made 110 combined apps for Celtic, lifting five trophies including domestic treble last season. https://t.co/OyHBwj8p0J pic.twitter.com/wC8PdHooEl
— Larry Henry Jr (@lhenry019) January 16, 2024
West Ham, Nottingham Forest, and Brentford are all targeting #USMNT defender Cameron Carter-Vickers, a source close to the player confirmed to SBI. https://t.co/JEBSD31TgP
— SBI Soccer (@SBISoccer) January 16, 2024
£100m, not a pound less, get it done Peter
There is no way Brendan Rodgers will sanction the sale of CCV in this transfer window. It’s a possibility in the summer, but absolutely a no-goer at this time. CCV is essential to Celtic’s defence in the months ahead and the fans would not be happy if the club sold its best defensive asset at this time just to bolster its balance sheet.
But speaking of this and other quality players who have gone down south and proved their worth, It’s high time Celtic started to charge the same money English clubs would have to pay for our best players. £40 million should be the starting price foe someone of CCVs calibre, not a penny less.