Tell me something; what’s it going to take for The Daily Record to get carpeted over the behaviour of its journalists? Today, Craig Swan has written an article that alleges AC Milan held a meeting with representatives of Moussa Dembele last month and want another.
In the same article Swan says Celtic do not want to let the player go.
Does it allege that Milan have made a bid? No it doesn’t. In fact, it says that the clubs most likely to actually do that are Dortmund and Chelsea. It also says that Milan realise there is “next to no chance” of the deal going through.
No sh@t Sherlock.
What gave it away?
The repeated denials from Celtic Park or those from the player himself?
Could it have been – and this is an important one, Swan, so pay attention – those of his agent who says the player is happy in Scotland and all parties are pleased to keep it that way?
I’m not sure if he’s alleging tapping here, or that Celtic knows about this “informal talks” and are encouraging them or something else; it’s hard to believe that our club would be happy to let this go on though. And is that the point here? To have Celtic rake Moussa over the coals?
There is zero proof that Milan have any interest in Dembele save for a story which allegedly appeared in the Italian media but lasted 24 hours before it died on its arse. I actually have no doubt Milan are interested, as a number of other top European clubs are, but to suggest there’s been illicit contact already is dangerous nonsense.
Just this afternoon, as I write this, a story has broken from England saying Southampton want an investigation into Liverpool’s conduct in relation to the Virgil Van Dijk transfer; in short, they want to whether such back-stage contacts have taken place, and if they have they want the Anfield club severely sanctioned for it. This is serious stuff.
Yet The Record continues to throw around allegations with cavalier abandon. Earlier in the year, it’s sister publication – they literally share an address – Glasgow Live alleged exactly the same thing about Chelsea, and I wrote that if they have evidence of this Celtic should ask to see it. Of course, that story was quickly forgotten about.
That paper would stoop to any low, and they would get away with it all if we weren’t constantly keeping an eye on them and calling them on it.
Their behaviour is a disgrace.