Sky Sports News Celtic Transfer Update Wasn’t An Update And It Wasn’t News Either.

Last night, Sky Sports New generously “updated” us on the status of our transfer negotiations with Jota and Cameron Carter Vickers. All they did, actually, was recycle stories which have been in the media all week, and came from elsewhere.

But they added a little fun detail to the Carter Vickers story, as if we needed it.

Apparently, there is no “wiggle room” on the price-tag.

This is not news. This is the nature of a set price in a loan-to-buy option.

Of course there is no wiggle room. On either side.

Although the Scottish press has been pushing the line that Spurs have upped the ante and that the price for Jota is a “starting point.”

Honest to God, does the average football really know more than the sports media?

Because every fan I know understands how the loan-to-buy option works. The fee is set. Negotiations are not necessary. They take place before the contract is put in place. Everyone knows where they stand.

If negotiations over the deals are really taking place – and both could wait until the close season or at least later on in the campaign, and so I’d question the reports on that front – then nothing that has happened in recent weeks that will have taken either party by surprise.

Jota himself seems happy to wait.

Carter Vickers would probably sign his deal tomorrow, but there is no hurry for Celtic to get it done, not when other priorities exist, not where there are still other positions in the squad to be filled.

In spite of much media nonsense to the contrary – and yes, Keevins, that means you – fans are not ignorant or stupid or lack basic comprehension when it comes to how this stuff works.

If you have already bought three players and want a couple more, and you have these guys on loan already and set clauses ready to be activated, why would you do it now?

Would it not be smarter to wait a while, and get the other business done instead?

Celtic fans can understand that.

Who is feeding the press this stuff?

I respect the excellent work Anthony Joseph does at Sky, and his name is on the article in which the “no wiggle room” phrase originates. But most of our fan-base knows that already; he shouldn’t mistake us for the Daily Record’s target audience.