Celtic can’t let David Turnbull get away following the John McGinn fiasco.
John McGinn’s success at Aston Villa left Celtic looking a little silly, it has to be said.
The Scotland midfielder won Premier League promotion in his first season with Villa, less than a year after a number of derisory bids from Celtic.
The Hoops, according to The Scottish Sun, refused to table a fourth bid after seeing a £2 million offer rejected. Aston Villa came in, paid what Hibernian wanted – £3 million [Edinburgh News] – and that was that. Deal done.
Given that McGinn grew up a Celtic fan, the Parkhead faithful were furious, but it’s nothing compared to the anger they’ll feel toward chief executive Peter Lawwell if the same happens with David Turnbull.
The Motherwell star is one of Scotland’s most exciting young strikers and Barnsley are already ahead of Celtic. According to The Glasgow Evening Times, the English outfit saw a £2 million bid knocked back on Friday.
The report adds that the Bhoys’ verbal seven-figure offer is ‘is still a long way’ short of the Premiership’s club valuation, which really isn’t a good start.
There’s nothing wrong with Lawwell trying to get the player – any player – for as cheap as possible, but if there are other interested parties, as there was with McGinn, then dithering and haggling isn’t a luxury that’s available to him.
If the Celtic supremo wants him, he’s going to have to pay the money because if Turnbull – valued at £3 million, like McGinn – ends up at Barnsley or somewhere else, there’s nowhere for Lawwell to hide.
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