While Celtic’s Europa League hopes have gone up in smoke already, so too have their chances of luring one of the most exciting young midfielders in European football to Parkhead.
In May, Michael Olise was less than 20 league games into his professional career when the Daily Mail reported Reading’s teen sensation had caught the eye of the Scottish Premiership champions.
Nicky Hammond, Celtic’s head of football operations, knew the fleet-footed Frenchman from his time at the Madejski and was planning a reunion north of the border.
Flash forward to December, however, and Celtic’s hopes of winning the race for Olise’s sought-after signature look about as likely as their ‘ten in a row’ dreams becoming reality.
Because, according to the Reading Chronicle, Olise’s price tag has soared to somewhere in the region of £20 million in the past few months.
That might have something to do with the fact Reading, the Championship’s surprise package, have been thrust into the play-off picture thanks to the talismanic performances of a midfielder who doesn’t turn 19 until later this month.
What’s more, La Liga giants Real Madrid and Barcelona are sniffing around now too.
Never one to miss out on a future superstar, so too are Borussia Dortmund, who have a proud and hugely successful track record when it comes to snapping up talented teenagers – see Jadon Sancho, Gio Reyna, Erling Haaland and another Championship export, Jude Bellingham.
If Reading are really demanding £20 million – and there’s no reason to believe they aren’t when Birmingham sold Bellingham for a similar fee – it’s probably time for Celtic to sheepishly remove their hat from the ring.
After all, the Hoops’ record signing, Odsonne Edouard, set the club back less than £10 million. In this financial climate, they aren’t going to spend double that on a teenager, no matter how talented.
And given Olise appears to have his pick of Europe’s bonafide superclubs, with Arsenal, Liverpool and others also linked, it’s difficult to think of a compelling argument why he should join a Celtic side whose already miserable season descended into farce during Saturday’s 2-0 home defeat to Ross County.
There’s a toxic cloud hanging above the green half of Glasgow. Trouble in Paradise. And Olise could do without inhaling the fumes.
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