I said yesterday that I wanted to revisit one transfer window story, even though I’m not keen on writing them.
The story in question is about a rumour that flared up and then fizzled out. At the start of the window, I thought this one had better than an average chance of happening. So, why hasn’t it? What went wrong?
The story, of course, is the buzz around Motherwell’s young talent, Lennon Miller. The rumours at the start of the window were rife, and even some mainstream journalists—who do know a bit about what’s going on—were discussing it. At that point, it seemed like a near-certainty that Celtic would make a move. We might not have landed the player, but a bid felt inevitable.
Now, 22 days into the window, there’s been nothing. No move, no noise, and no indication that one is coming. How do we know? Because yesterday, a club from Italy tabled a bid of just over £2 million. That’s a figure easily within our reach, and there were even whispers that we were preparing a bid worth double that amount. But since then, there’s been silence.
This doesn’t rule out the possibility of us making a £4 million bid. If we had already indicated to Motherwell that such a bid was coming, it would explain why they so easily rejected the Italian offer. However, I suspect that we’ve either had a change of heart about the player, or the interest in him was never as strong as it seemed.
Both scenarios are plausible. My gut tells me the interest was genuine, but something turned us off. It could well have been the comments from his father, who is heavily involved in guiding his career.
Those remarks may have convinced Celtic that this wasn’t a road worth going down.
Don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against the kid or his dad.
They’re perfectly entitled to follow whatever career plan they believe is best. But Celtic also have to do what’s best for us. When his father talks about a career plan that guarantees him game time, that’s where we step off the bus.
To play for Celtic, you need the belief that you’ll play every week.
But you don’t get to demand it. If he’d expressed a desire to join a big club and the confidence to say, “I’m not here to sit on the bench; I’m here to prove I belong in the side,” I’ve no doubt we’d have done the deal already.
Maybe the next 10 days will bring a surprise, and Celtic will go in for this kid after all. But right now, this feels like one we’re not going to pursue. Even if we did, I’m not sure it would lead to a positive outcome. It seems like his camp has their sights set on Italy or somewhere similar. That first bid has already come in, and Motherwell are likely to hold out for a bit more.
Whether this deal someday looks like the one that got away remains to be seen.
He’s only 18, with a bright future ahead of him—unless, as can happen at that age, his development stalls. I think there’s a real player there, genuine talent, and that neither he nor Celtic would regret it if he signed.
But then you look at our midfield, one of the strongest we’ve had in years, and wonder where he’d fit. Is he mentally ready for a step like this? Would he be patient enough to bide his time until he’s at the level where he leaves no doubt?
I believe he’s got that in him. That’s why we’re having this discussion.
It’s why Italian clubs are circling, and one has already made a move.
All I know is that the talk of Celtic’s interest has dropped to a whisper.
Whether that changes in the coming days, at least we now know what the lowest possible number on the table is.
Photo by Mark Scates/SNS Group via Getty Images
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I would imagine the player’s broken ankle injury will have a lot to do with our immediate lack of interest in this transfer window. We can afford to wait until the Summer and hope that no one gazzumps us.
Seem to be ignoring the the fact that Miller is injured and may unable to play for a while. Might that not be a factor?
Not been overly impressed anytime I watched him..
Someone can correct me if I’m wrong but he looks a very similar player to Arne Engels for me. Certainly to the extent that it’s difficult to imagine them both playing in the first eleven at the same time. With that and his injury the best solution to him and his dad may be signing him and leaving him at Motherwell till the Summer. Italian teams seem to give their new young Scottish signings game time pretty quickly so that may be more attractive to them.
I would rather go for Shae Charles who Southampton has just recalled from his loan spell at Sheffield Wednesday seemingly as a result of Sheffield demanding massive compensation after Southampton enquired about their Manager. He’s a defensive midfielder destined for the EPL but a couple of years with us or even a loan could allow us to rest CalMac.
James , regards our midfield,you state it’s the strongest it’s been for years ,maybe so but there has been a few games this season where we look light and powder puff in midfield,some teams have simply bulldozed through our midfield,I still think in this window we should at least try and get a hardman enforcer type to bolster our midfield,a broony wanyama Lenny or even someone in the mould of dare I say it Reno gattuso,so I hope our midfield is strong enough tonight because I think young boys will copy sevco and Dundee tactics high press and rush past the midfield.
Agree. We have a really strong midfield and with Engels and Bernardo, two young players we are trying to develop. And with McCowan, Hatate and MacGregor I don’t see where Miler is going to fit in regularly. Good player and £4m isn’t eyewatering but at this time and place I won’t be upset if he doesn’t come.
He may be young and Scottish and we do need to keep adding those players to our European squad BUT (even ignoring his current injury which probably rules out signing him this window anyway) he’s not the the type of player our midfield currently needs. We already have great box to box and creative midfielders but we are crying out for a proper enforcer in the midfield. Rangers* steamrollered us in there and not just because of their tactics – their midfield three outmuscled us and they’re not the first to do so this season. Not one of our 5 midfielders is a no-nonsense tackler who sees danger, breaks up play, wins the ball and passes it to the better players and that is what we should be looking for – whether its domestically or abroad doesn’t concern me but without a proper DM (which is not Calmac even though he effectively plays that position) we will struggle against strong physical opponents (domestically and in Europe).
Agreed Woodyiom – An enforcer is imperative for sure !
It looks like the timing isn’t right and ultimately we’ve decided he’s not so good that we have to buy him, he might be one that got away and good luck to him but I’m not too upset we’ve left it.