Martin O'Neill has been explaining Celtic's latest transfer failure after they were rejected by now former striker Kelechi Iheanacho. Iheanacho made his presence felt during the run-in last season and looked as though he might have done enought to win a new deal.
The Bhoys had the option to extend his deal for another year, but they did not do that, and despite O'Neill telling the striker he needed a pre-season, Celtic did not offer him one, instead asking him to stay fit on his own, taking weeks to finally decide to offer a new deal.
By the time they did offer a new deal, Celtic are believed to have offered a deal heavily reliant upon initiatives to protect themselves against potential injury issues, and it was another short-term deal.
Unimpressed, Iheanacho decided to go elsewhere, joining Turkish side Buraspor and leaving the Bhoys short at the top end of the pitch.
O'Neill explains Iheanacho shortcomings
Speaking after Celtic's pre-season draw with Middlesbrough, O'Neill was asked about the failure to sign Iheanacho. He said: "There are always two sides to every transfer. He’s gone, I thought we had a deal with him at the time but that wasn’t the case and so he’s gone to pastures new.
"The option ran out, that’s fine. But the option would be to take someone on similar terms to before, so that’s where the difference was. It would have been nice to have him for pre-season. He’s chosen to go elsewhere."
"Again, there are two sides to every story. It’s happened, players have gone. I think he’s done really well at the club and there were circumstances which seemingly meant it was never going to happen."
Celtic are not helping themselves
We are hearing about Celtic's struggles to agree deals with players, but Iheanacho is another example of a poor transfer strategy. O'Neill has told Iheanacho he needs a pre-season to prove his fitness and avoid injury issues, but then the offer isn't sent until after Celtic start their pre-season.
And while the concern for injury is understandable, Iheanacho proved his value towards the end of the season, so if it's true the club offered a deal reliant upon incentives, it's another example of showing disrespect to a proven and senior player.
Some clubs can get away with that, but Celtic clearly cannot, given their existing trouble signing players. You have to know your leverage in negotiations, and having signed only one player this summer, it's clear Celtic have very little.
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