Celtic have confirmed that they have sold Stuart Armstrong to Southampton, for a reported £7 million.
There is no question that Celtic losing Stuart Armstrong for the coming campaign is a major blow for Brendan Rodgers’ squad given how impressive the midfielder has been for the Hoops since the current boss arrived.
Armstrong’s Parkhead departure has now been confirmed, with the midfielder leaving for Southampton. The fee, as reported by BBC Sport, is said to be an initial £7 million and could reportedly rise further due to add-ons included in the deal.
With the move now completed, it is surely fair to say that Celtic have done superbly to get as much as they have received from the Premier League side.
Armstrong is a fantastic player, but he was entering the final year of his contract with the Hoops and the Daily Record recently reported that he wished to leave the club, so keeping him this summer left them vulnerable to the possibility of losing him for nothing next year.
With those kind of funds, Celtic have the potential to fill the void that he leaves behind. As impressive as he has been over the last two years, it must not be forgotten that he only started 15 Scottish Premiership games last season and only scored three goals having scored 15 the year before.
It is a blow for Celtic to lose Armstrong, but last season showed that his departure does not have to have a major impact on the squad, especially as the Hoops have reportedly received at least £7 million from the Saints.
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