Frank McAvennie has voiced serious concerns about Celtic's transfer strategy after hearing that majority shareholder Dermot Desmond is taking a hands-on role in the summer window. Speaking on his Let Me Be Frank podcast, the former Celtic striker warned that manager Martin O'Neill may not be happy with the situation.
Slow Start to Summer Window
The Scottish champions have made a sluggish start to the transfer window, with major squad surgery needed ahead of the new campaign. Since the unveiling of Martin O'Neill as permanent manager, there has been little activity from the club. Supporters are still waiting for confirmation of O'Neill's backroom team, and there has been no update on the futures of out-of-contract players Kelechi Iheanacho and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, nor on loanees like Marcelo Sarrachi.
McAvennie's Warning
McAvennie claimed: "I heard that Dermot is doing it [transfers] himself. He's got a lot of time on his hands, but my God. I think he is a very clever man, to make the money he has got he has got to be clever. But just leave it to the football guys." He added: "It's so strange that it could be true. Martin is not the kind of manager you go 'there is a player'."
When asked about the possibility of Desmond adopting a statistical approach similar to Jamestown Analytics at Hearts, McAvennie expressed deep concern. He said: "Listen, I just hope we get people in. Normally you sit and think 'oh, it's great - we are going to do this and this' - I just don't see it. I don't see anything changing. I think it's going to be the same as the last couple of seasons, last minute. Creeping for loans, and a club like Celtic shouldn't do that."
Missed Opportunity
McAvennie also criticised the club for not moving for Motherwell standout Elijah Just, who impressed at the World Cup with New Zealand. He said: "See the boy Just? We should have got him before he went to the World Cup. No chance of getting him now, I don't think."
