Celtic have completed some early business in the transfer window this summer, most recently David Turnbull joining from Scottish Premiership rivals Motherwell.
But it’s one player that they appear to be missing out on that could define their activity tenfold.
Mooted target Ivan Toney is edging closer to a move to Championship outfit Brentford after they had a £10m bid accepted by Peterborough United.
Given Wednesday night’s shocking exit from the Champions League, he’s a player that Neil Lennon could have done with in the absence of Odsonne Edouard, who surely isn’t going to be at Parkhead much past this ten-in-a-row season.
Back in July, Posh chairman Barry Fry slammed the Scottish giants for “piddling about” over their offer for the 24-year-old. It’s thought that Celtic only offered a mere £5m for their star man, leading to the following comments:
“They’ve told Peter Lawwell and Nicky Hammond to go and get him, but they won’t get Toney with what they’re piddling about with, that’s for sure. Toney would be a revelation for Celtic, he’d be a star, for definite. He’d score 30 to 40 goals up there, he really would. Not only is he brilliant in the box, scoring and creating with his right foot, left foot and head, at six foot four he’s also our best defender. Celtic will get £40-50m for him.”
Now the Bees have won the race to clinch him barring any last-minute bid of a similar nature and this’ll be something the club lives to regret in due course.
The blame has to fall in the hands of Nick Hammond who has failed to deliver a proper offer and now they can only sit back and watch him thrive elsewhere.
Toney bagged a whopping 26 goals and also provided seven assists for Peterborough last season and has previously been dubbed a “dream” to work with by former boss Steve Evans due to his “phenomenal” work rate and attitude.
You can’t help but feel that the Hoops have missed out on a sensation here, especially one who looked fit to fill the soon-to-be void of Eduoard.
AND in other news, Lennon plotting Championship raid in a bid to replace Ajer…
