Celtic’s link with a Morrocan free transfer shows a versatility in our strategy which is long overdue.

Celtic are reportedly watching Youssef El Kachati, a Moroccan-born striker currently plying his trade in the Netherlands, and who will soon be available on a free transfer. Naturally, the usual suspects are greeting this rumour with a rolling of the eyes and some performative gnashing of teeth, as if the idea of a player arriving at Parkhead on a Bosman is somehow beneath us.

I think it’s fair to say that there’s a segment of our support who love big signings purely for the numbers involved. I suspect these are the same people holding Adam Idah’s price tag against him. But worse, they forget that Celtic’s transfer success isn’t built on record-breaking fees but on smart recruitment and value for money.

Celtic need a striker, yes. That’s beyond debate.

We absolutely should be replacing Kyogo properly, instead of gambling. But does that mean spending £10 million on a name just to make people happy on Twitter for an afternoon? Not even remotely.

Our club has a long, proud history of success in the Bosman market – players who cost us nothing in transfer fees and who went on to deliver trophies, goals, moments of magic and, in some cases, very tidy resale profits.

You’d think that sort of savvy trading would be encouraged. Instead, you get the usual “signings from the bargain bin” moaners out in force.

So let’s put this into context, shall we? Let’s have a look back at our most successful Bosman signings and make the case – clearly and emphatically – that free transfers, when done right, are as good as gold.

One of my favourite Celtic players of the 2000’s was signed on a free; Joe Ledley was 23 years old, the captain of Cardiff City and one of the best midfielders in the Championship when Celtic snapped him up on a free transfer.

It was a signing that should have made people sit up and take notice – we beat off English Premier League interest to get him, after all – and yet there were still sneers about a lack of ambition.

Ledley was a rock in that midfield. He gave us balance, composure and a calm presence in big matches. He scored goals, most famously against a very big one against Rangers. He also brought the experience and poise that allowed younger talents to develop around him.

He left for Crystal Palace after four years, but during his time at Celtic Park, he was outstanding value. If we’d paid £5 million for him, nobody would have blinked.

Craig Gordon was a risky signing. He’d been out of football for two years due to serious injuries and looked like he might have been finished. But Celtic brought him in on a free and gave him a chance to rebuild his career. What followed was a remarkable comeback story.

He replaced Fraser Forster, no less, and did so admirably. He was a crucial part of the Invincibles season. He played Champions League football. He saved us time and again in high-pressure moments. He cost nothing and gave us years of top-level service.

Even when we eventually brought Forster back, Gordon remained a steady and reliable presence. If all Bosmans worked out that well, we’d never spend a penny.

Mikael Lustig was another belter. Lustig came in from Rosenborg on a free in 2012 and left in 2019 with a suitcase full of medals. He became a cult hero – not just because of the mad celebrations and glorious piss-taking he sometimes indulged in, but because he was a cracking right-back.

He defended well, attacked with purpose, and gave us consistency year after year. The fact we got him for nothing is yet another reminder that value doesn’t always come with a big price tag.

Aaron Mooy was signed on a free, and although it took him a couple of months to find his stride, once he did, he was brilliant. He gave us control, maturity, and a pass completion rate that most midfielders would envy. He scored goals, dictated tempo, and rarely put a foot wrong.

He also left at just the right time – on his own terms, with his reputation enhanced. Again, all for nothing in transfer fees.

You get the point, right? The next time someone scoffs at the idea of Celtic signing a player on a Bosman, remind them that we’ve built teams, won titles, and banked millions on the back of players who didn’t cost a transfer fee.

It’s not about how much you spend. It’s about how well you spend. And when you’re shopping in the free agent market, that’s where your recruitment department really earns its stripes.

If Youssef El Kachati ticks the boxes – and Celtic’s track record suggests we know what we’re looking for – then we should absolutely go for him.

Ignore the noise. Big spending for its own sake is the kind of short-termism that kills clubs. Clever business is what keeps us winning.