Ex-BBC pundit Noel Whelan believes that Celtic will be continue to lose their brightest youngsters to Premier League clubs.
The lowdown: Precedent set?
This comes after the Hoops lost talented young winger Ben Doak to Liverpool, with the 16-year-old confirming the switch on his Instagram profile last week.
A recent report from the Daily Record claimed that Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool once more were looking at emerging playmaker Daniel Kelly, whilst full-back Mitchel Frame was also attracting interest from the English top flight as the Hoops attempt to stave off potential suitors.
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However, with an apparent production line coming out of Lennoxtown, the Glasgow giants may face a conflict of interest when it comes to keeping the brightest prospects at the club.
The latest: Whelan fears the ‘inevitable’
Speaking to Football Insider, former Aberdeen striker Whelan has claimed that Celtic need to sell their prized assets in order to compete at the senior level.
He stated: “It’s inevitable. Even the giants of Celtic and Rangers, the stature they have in Scotland and in Europe and the big sides they are, they can’t afford not to sell. This is what keeps them surviving and being competitive in Europe and then the Scottish Premiership. They have to sell certain players to bring money into the football club.
“That allows them to progress and keeps them at that level. It’s not ideal. But if you go and ask any of the top players if they would have a chance to move to the Premier League in England? That’s their pinnacle.
“They start off at a club. Inevitably if you become successful and do very well, I can’t see them staying there too much longer. Especially if one of the Premier League clubs come in.
“Because of the wage structure and the gap between finances between Scotland and England, it’s very hard to turn down. The managers must be really frustrated, but it’s just the order of things.”
The verdict: Change coming
Financially, Celtic may previously have needed to operate as a selling entity in order to remain competitive in the Premiership. However, that may be about to come to an end as the Hoops stand on the brink of a spot in the Champions League group stages for the 2022/23 campaign.
That brings with it a healthy windfall believed to be in the region of £13.4m simply for participating at the stage, with further income dependent on results.
Champions League participation also brings a certain allure which could also help the Parkhead hierarchy to persuade the club’s best young talents that Celtic is indeed the right place to be in order to reach the very pinnacle of their game.
In other news, journalist urges Celtic to offer key backroom man a new deal. Read more here.