THE £20M GAMBLE CELTIC LOST — Champions League Exit Has Already Changed The Transfer Window After Martin’s “Regardless of Result” Claim

Anthony Joseph’s latest update should leave Celtic supporters seriously angry.

According to Sky Sports, Celtic were preparing to spend in excess of £20million this week had they successfully negotiated the Champions League play-off against LASK.

Just think about what that tells us.

Money was apparently available. Players had been identified. Significant investment was being considered.

Yet Celtic seemingly needed to bank Champions League qualification before having the confidence to press ahead with it.

That gamble has now spectacularly backfired.

Anthony Joseph reports that Torino midfielder Gvidas Gineitis and Slovan Liberec’s Ermin Mahmić were among Celtic’s plans, with a move for Gineitis at around £10million now looking unlikely following elimination.

For me, that’s absolutely infuriating.

Celtic aren’t operating from a position of financial desperation. Years of European revenue, profitable player trading and healthy financial results have put the club in a position many of our domestic rivals could only dream of.

Add the significant money generated from Arne Engels’ move to West Ham and it’s difficult to understand why Champions League qualification seemingly had to come before major investment.

Surely strengthening the squad was supposed to help Celtic reach the Champions League?

Instead, we’ve effectively tried to buy the ammunition after the battle was already over.

Celtic needed these players BEFORE the LASK tie!

Here’s the question I simply cannot get away from.

If Gineitis and Mahmić were good enough for Celtic after qualification, why weren’t they required before it?

Recruitment work had clearly been done. Targets had been identified and, according to Joseph, more than £20million worth of spending was being prepared.

So why wait?

Celtic already knew Engels was likely to leave.

Other weaknesses weren’t exactly hidden either.

Kieran Tierney required proper cover.

Alistair Johnston’s situation meant another option at right-back was needed.

Midfield reinforcements were clearly a priority.

Anthony now reports Celtic are still looking for two central midfielders, a goalkeeper, left-back, right-back and potentially a left winger.

That’s not adding one or two finishing touches.

We’re talking about major surgery on the squad.

Somehow Celtic entered the biggest fixtures of the early season knowing all of that work remained outstanding.

Qualification was then thrown away despite holding a 4-0 aggregate advantage during the second leg, with LASK eventually progressing 5-4.

Players and management deserve their share of criticism for a collapse like that.

However, responsibility cannot stop at the dressing-room door.

I am always and will continue to focus my attention to those in the collar and ties.

Those responsible for assembling the squad sent Celtic into a Champions League play-off with several important positions still needing strengthened.

That decision now looks incredibly costly.

Joseph’s £20million figure is what really bothers me.

Spending more than £20million after Champions League qualification was apparently considered acceptable.

Why wasn’t significant investment sanctioned beforehand to give Celtic the strongest possible chance of actually getting there?

Nobody was asking Celtic to navigate Real Madrid, Bayern Munich or Paris Saint-Germain.

LASK stood between this club and another season among Europe’s elite.

At one stage Celtic were four goals ahead in the tie.

Despite that advantage, everything unravelled.

Missing out on roughly £40million of Champions League revenue is damaging enough. Discovering afterwards that substantial transfer spending was effectively waiting on qualification makes the situation even harder to accept.

Celtic gambled, obsessed with the balance sheets before the team sheet.

Rather than investing from a position of strength and giving the manager his best possible squad for qualification, those in charge appear to have waited for the European money to arrive first.

Now it isn’t arriving at all.

Celtic have lost more than money here too.

Perhaps the most frustrating detail in Joseph’s report concerns the type of player Celtic could attract.

Sky reports that, as recently as Tuesday afternoon, Celtic were being offered “top European talent” through intermediaries because those players wanted Champions League football.

That market may now have disappeared.

Missing out on Europe’s premier competition doesn’t simply remove prize money from the accounts.

It reduces Celtic’s attraction to ambitious players.

Mahmic anyone?

Someone considering Glasgow alongside another European club may have been persuaded by eight Champions League fixtures, the atmosphere at Celtic Park and the opportunity to perform on the biggest stage.

Europa League football remains respectable.

It isn’t the Champions League.

Quality players know the difference.

Once again, this highlights the problem with qualifying first and strengthening afterwards.

Champions League football undoubtedly gives Celtic access to a stronger transfer market. Equally, Celtic require a strong enough squad to secure Champions League football in the first place.

Waiting created a dangerous catch-22.

Again, Celtic have been caught by it.

Will loans now replace potential permanent additions?

Another part of Joseph’s update should concern supporters.

Celtic’s recruitment strategy will now be reconsidered, with some positions potentially filled through loan signings instead.

We’ve seen this movie before.

Qualification could have meant permanent additions, serious investment and potentially a £10million midfielder.

Elimination suddenly risks becoming a reason to shop in a completely different market.

Why?

Celtic’s squad requirements haven’t disappeared because LASK scored five goals.

Two central midfielders are still required.

Full-back reinforcements are still required.

Goalkeeping competition is still required.

Any need for another attacking option hasn’t magically vanished either.

Every weakness identified before elimination remains a weakness today.

Only the projected income has changed.

Supporters therefore have every right to question any dramatic reduction in ambition, particularly given Celtic’s overall financial position.

Several days remain in the transfer window.

Time still exists to change the narrative.

If Mahmić was considered capable of improving Celtic before elimination, pursue him.

Should Gineitis genuinely be viewed internally as a player capable of transforming the midfield, Celtic must decide whether they believe in that assessment rather than allowing one European result to dictate everything.

Most importantly, finish building the squad.

Nobody wants to hear about the £20million Celtic would have spent.

Supporters care about what Celtic are prepared to spend now.

Champions League revenue has disappeared. Europe’s biggest stage has disappeared with it. Access to some of the players attracted by that competition may also have vanished.

Those are the consequences of waiting.

Backing the squad before qualification would never have guaranteed Champions League football.

Football doesn’t work like that.

However, it would have given Celtic a better chance.

Instead, the club appears to have gambled on getting there first and investing afterwards.

That gamble failed.

Now Celtic’s hierarchy have a matter of days to prove that losing the Champions League doesn’t also mean losing their ambition.

Keep Your Eyes On The Board.