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Most Celtic “transfer stories” are rubbish. It’s that time of year after all.

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Today is the 16th, which means we’re two weeks into the transfer window and about halfway through it. Nobody has signed for Celtic yet, but that’s what we’ve come to expect from a board that never seems in much of a hurry to spend money.

Still, nobody’s panicking, nor should they. The manager has said we’ll get some news in the next few days—hopefully this week, although the week is creeping to a close. If it’s early next week, so be it. Let’s give them the benefit of the doubt for now.

This has been a classic transfer window in many ways, full of excitement and anxiety bouncing around the support. The media has thrown out plenty of names—some credible, some not so much.

A lot of it comes down to people putting two and two together and getting five. Some of it is random speculation, and some is just utter rubbish.

For this blog, it’s been one of the quietest transfer windows ever.

I don’t think I’ve posted too many major stories, apart from the ones about Kieran Tierney and a couple about Kyogo—and why we’re not going to sell him in this window. Rumours about him popped up online yesterday, this time linking him to France instead of the U.S. But I’m not touching them. I’ve already said all I’m going to say on that, and I don’t believe it’ll happen.

I’ve learned to be quite chilled about all this stuff.

Ninety-five per cent of what’s out there is hot air. It’s white noise, background chatter that doesn’t really matter. Our focus right now should be on getting back to top form—no more repeats of nights like last night. And yes, I agree with the manager: some fresh faces would give the squad a boost. But I’m only going to get excited about a deal when it’s officially confirmed on the Celtic website.

I can’t even get wound up about the idea of us taking a young player on loan from an English club to do their development work for them while some of our own players don’t get a sniff. I won’t lose sleep over it unless it actually happens.

If it does, I’ll have more to say on it. But, like so much in this window, it’s just rumours and vapours—something that might be nothing.

One of the stories yesterday was about Alex Valle and the possibility of him moving to Como on loan. I don’t know how that would even work. We’ve got him on a contract for the season, but I suppose it work it alright if Barcelona were to recall him; based on the Tillman deal we’d surely be entitled to some money in return, as well as a cut of any future transfer fee if they sell him on.

But, of course, I’m not crossing my fingers for any of that.

That story alone has so many variables that it’s easy to ignore. It hinges on Kieran Tierney moving back to Celtic in this window for a start, which still seems far-fetched to me. There are more obstacles than clear paths in that scenario.

Still, it would be madness to leave this window weaker at left-back than when we started. It would also be madness to sell a key striker and not replace him. If people are worrying about that, I get it. But I’m not going to.

I’ve hated transfer windows for a long time. A mate of mine, known on here as “The Rumour Guy,” used to write most of the transfer stories for this site because I couldn’t stand doing them. Even though he’s moved on, I’ve never felt the urge to take over and cover every bit of gossip that crops up.

The manager knows what he wants, and the board knows what positions need strengthening.

If they deliver, fine. If they don’t, I’ll know who to blame, because no manager wants to lose key players without replacements coming in. We have enough money in the bank to tell any club looking at our first-team players to get lost. If we don’t do that, and someone crucial leaves without a replacement, it’s on the board.

But I’m not going to get worked up over something that hasn’t happened and which I am 99% sure won’t. In two weeks, we’ll know how this has all played out. We’ll know the squad we’re taking into the rest of the season.

If there are issues, we’ll talk about them then. If there are signings, I’ll write about them when they are confirmed. Until then, I am just going to pretend that the transfer window is something happening in a faraway land.

It’s less stressful.

Photo by Emmanuele Ciancaglini/Ciancaphoto Studio/Getty Images

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3 comments

  • JimBhoyback says:

    Hey we might get a Tillman here, on loan to us but parent club wants him back so million in the bank, yeehah, great player policy model….. Oh wait!!

  • Clachnacuddin and the Hoops says:

    I’m the same James – Not stressing to much about this…

    Priority one tho has to be a midfield enforcer for sure –

    We’ve been outmuscled and bullied in several games this season and that must stop and stop The day before tomorrow please Brendan !

    Brick for Brick – Boot for Boot – Bottle for Bottle type of players please Brendan !

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