If a big bid comes in for a Celtic player in the upcoming transfer window, which player is it most likely to be for?

Are we going to see something unprecedented at Celtic in the upcoming summer transfer window?

And by unprecedented, I mean will we see a window where we do not sell one of our top players for big money?

Well, as we entered into most windows in the past, we always had an idea of who was the most likely player to be moved on for a big transfer fee.

There were always rumours circulating around certain players.

Last summer, we knew it was inevitable that Matt O’Riley would leave the club.

And that was simply because of the interest we had seen for him in the previous January transfer window.

Atletico Madrid were sniffing around, and when a club of that stature is looking at you, then you just know that other clubs from bigger leagues will be sniffing around too.

Strangely enough, the only player at Celtic last January that clubs were looking at was our top striker.

We know what happened there, and the less said about it, the better.

Most people, including the manager, were not happy with the way Kyogo Furuhashi sold and then not replaced.

But the reality right now is that there is no major interest in our top players at the moment.

That’s not to say that there won’t be.

And we all know that if a substantial bid comes in for one of our top players, then it’s unlikely the board will resist.

However, they are in a position right now where they would have to give every penny of that transfer straight back to the manager to put back into the squad.

We’re all aware of what positions need to be addressed in this window.

So selling another top player would be completely counter-productive, as it would only further weaken an already weak squad.

Not only would it be counter-productive, it would also be a pointless endeavour.

Simply because of what this Celtic team requires in the upcoming summer transfer window.

But if a bid was to come in for one of our top players, who are the most likely squad members to be targeted?

There are rumours floating around that a few clubs are showing interest in Arne Engels, the latest being Atalanta.

To me, there is no foundation really in these rumours because it just would not make any practical sense to sell Arne Engels after just one season at the club.

Especially after breaking the bank for him.

The club paid £11 million for him, rumoured to be rising to £12.5 million over the course of his contract at Celtic.

Augsburg negotiated a 20% sell on clause for Engels.

So for Celtic to let go of the player this early in his contract would make zero sense.

Simply because it would take a monumental bid for that to happen.

Even if the fabled parting figure of £25 million was offered for him, it would actually in reality be £20 million, as £5 million would go to Augsburg.

Meaning at the end of all negotiations, Celtic would stand to make just £7.5 million on Engels after what the club paid for him.

Hardly worthwhile, don’t you think?

Which is why I think this one will amount to nothing.

I just don’t think the club would entertain it.

But if we discount Engels, which we should, who are the most likely players bids could come in for?

The most obvious one is Daizen Maeda.

Aside from a report coming from Turkey, where Fenerbahce were rumoured to be preparing a derisory offer of €10 million, there’s not much else in the news about the Japanese international.

The equivalent of £8.5 million for a player who scored 33 goals last season is risible.

Which makes the veracity of that story questionable.

However, considering what he cost Celtic, (£1 million) the board would be looking at any sale from a profitability perspective.

If a club came in with a bid of say £20 million, well, that would be hard for them to resist.

Once again though, for that to be even considered, two strikers would need to be in the door beforehand.

Which is why it seems all the more unlikely this would happen.

After Maeda, I only see two other players who might attract big bids.

Reo Hatate and Nicolas Kuhn.

Hatate has never hidden his desire to play in a top European league.

But his consistency, or lack thereof, could be the one thing that deters any bids from coming Celtic’s way.

Hatate has the ability to turn a game on it’s head with a defence splitting pass.

But conversely, he also has an uncanny ability to be posted missing in very important games.

The fact that he is injured at the moment will probably reduce the likelihood of any bids coming in before the new season starts.

Another player that Celtic got at a cut price £1.5 million, he is one they would also look at from a profitability point of view.

Which is why you could definitely see the board entertaining bids for him in the future.

But not in this window.

Finally, Nicolas Kuhn.

Would his end of season slump deter any prospective buyers from looking at him?

I would have to say no.

Whatever way you want to cut it, Kuhn banged in 21 goals on the wing, and delivered 15 assists last season.

As a result, I think Nicolas Kuhn is the most likely of all the aforementioned players to be the subject of bids before this summer’s transfer window is out.

All players go off the boil at one point or another.

That doesn’t make bad players, just human.

Kuhn’s numbers are impressive, and he also produced in the Champions League, namely against top German opposition.

He scored against both of his former clubs, Red Bull Leipzig and Bayern Munich.

As a result, it wouldn’t surprise me if we saw interest from clubs in the Bundesliga.

Considering our lack of options on the wings at the moment, I feel this would be a no-go zone for Brendan Rodgers.

Whether that would deter the board or not remains to be seen.

It’s once again a scenario that would be totally counter productive.

But who knows?

The board could sell Kuhn for big money, and Rodgers might bring in two wingers for the money they make off him.

Ultimately, this is what the Celtic board has to weigh up should these scenarios arise.

Do I trust them to make the right decisions here?

Well, if we make a big sale in this window, there is no doubting every penny of that sale would have to be handed back to the manager.

Which begs the question?

Is this window going to be another zero net spend window?

Or is it going to be a daring move into uncharted territory?

Where we sell no-one, and the board gives Brendan Rodgers the funds to bring in the players he requires?

That’s what makes this upcoming window so interesting.

It’s the first time I’ve heard very little solid rumours regarding our top players.

I know all of that can change in an instant.

But it makes for an interesting scenario nonetheless.

The board owes the manager after what they did in January.

They played a significant part in us missing out on the treble by not replacing Kyogo Furuhashi.

It’s time for them to step up and prove they’re willing to get out ahead of anything that’s happening across the city.

If there was ever a time for that, this is it.

Let’s hope they see it that way.