Chris Davies believes Celtic could break the club’s record transfer fee

As reported by The Evening Times, Celtic assistant manager Chris Davies believes that the club’s board would back a move to break the Hoops’ £6million record transfer fee this month if the right player can be identified.

During Martin O’Neill’s term, this record fee of £6million was first splashed out on striker Chris Sutton and then a second time to sign John Hartson.

Since then, the £4.5 million purchase of French midfielder Oliver Ntcham in the summer window is as close as the club has come to breaking the £6million barrier, but Davies insists the board would support the management team if such a deal was available.

I think the club will support if it is the right player. Brendan works closely with Peter [Lawwell] and Dermot [Desmond]. If it is the right player that we all feel is worth that money, and can really take us forward, then I’m sure Brendan would be supported in that. We could just bring players in almost for the sake of it. You pay fees, they are not quite right but you are getting your numbers in. But to protect the club and make sure we are doing the right thing for them and the team, we want to make sure it is the right player. It has to be quality but it has to be the right player. That’s what Brendan is focusing on, working with the club.

The Englishman, who worked closely with Rodgers at Swansea, was keen to stress that they are targeting quality signings not just a number of players in this window.

We’re hoping to add to the squad in the next nine or ten days. I understand that the fans are eager to hear transfer news because, ultimately, they want the best for the club. They want to be as successful as they can and we want exactly the same. We have got stronger. We have had a very strong year again and reached all our objectives. So to add quality on to that takes a certain level of player. With these types of players, other things can come into it.

Celtic have already signed defender Marvin Compper and young winger Lewis Morgan this month and will hope to strengthen the team further as they aim for another successful end to the season.

Whether the club do break their record transfer in the next week or so remains to be seen.