Celtic supporters have been lamenting one that got away
Celtic supporters have endured numerous frustrations this season, and now the club’s failure to land Ivan Toney has been added to the list.
Speaking to the Scottish Sun in December, Peterborough director of football Barry Fry said Celtic’s offer for the striker in the summer was “insulting”.
In the end, the Scottish champions moved for Albian Ajeti. While the Swiss striker did break his drought with a goal in Tuesday’s 4-0 win against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park, it was only the 23-year-old’s sixth goal in 25 appearances this season.
Toney, meanwhile, has been in superb form for the Bees, scoring 22 in 31 appearances during the current campaign.
He scored twice in Saturday’s 4-1 win over Middlesbrough, and that double has reminded Celtic fans of what they could have had.
These supporters have been rueing the club’s failure to sign the Englishman.
In that Scottish Sun interview, Fry said: “Ivan wanted to go to Celtic. They should have pulled their finger out but they f***** about.
“Good job I never waited for them to sell (Odsonne) Edouard because they didn’t anyway.
“The boy’s done brilliant for Brentford — and that’s what I expected.
“Ivan’s different class. Premier League clubs are ringing me up about him.
“Those clubs wanted to take him before but that was just to put him on their benches. Now they want to take him to play.
“I said to Lenny (Neil Lennon) and Nicky Hammond, when I met him, that Ivan wasn’t only a goalscorer, he was also the best defender we had. Honestly, at opposition corners and set-pieces the boy was brilliant with clearing headers.
“What do I think he’s worth for them now? They might get £30-50m for him if he carries on the way he is.
“Nicky flew down to see me but Celtic’s bid was INSULTING. I told Nicky he’d wasted a flight.
“I’d spoken to him on the phone and told him what we wanted.
“I’d have waited. I told Gavin and Nick I was happy to do that — provided they came up with the right money. They said they didn’t have the money but would have if they sold Edouard.”
Toney cost Brentford an initial £5m when he joined in August, rising to £10m with add-ons.
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