Since Ange Postecoglou took over from Neil Lennon during the summer of 2021, Celtic have only signed one player from another Scottish Premiership club.
And that was back-up goalkeeper Benjamin Siegrist, brought in on a free transfer from Dundee United.
Compare that to the pre-Ange era. When Greg Taylor, David Turnbull, Scott Bain, Youssouf Mulumbu, Jonny Hayes all arrived at Parkhead in the space of only a few windows. Of all the benefits Postecoglou has brought to Celtic, his extensive knowledge of more far-flung markets is one of the more underrated.
It’s certainly hard to imagine that, if Lennon was still in the dugout, Kyogo Furuhashi, Aaron Mooy or Daizen Maeda – three players Postecoglou knew from his time in Japan and Australia – would now be wearing green-and-white.
Is Celtic move no longer possible for Hibs’ Kevin Nisbet?
During the January window, when Celtic were targeting a new centre-forward to replace the departing Giorgios Giakoumakis, the Hoops turned to Oh Hyeon-Gyu after trying and failing to land his fellow South Korean international Cho Gue-Sung.
The Scottish Sun did claim that Hibernian’s Kevin Nisbet was still on Celtic’s radar heading into the New Year. But, when push came to shove, Postecoglou opted against looking close to home. Casting his net some 5,000 miles east instead.
Nisbet’s contract expires in just over 12 months’ time. Hibernian, this summer, may be willing to accept bids in the region of just £2 million. What’s more, since returning from a long-term knee injury, the former Partick Thistle poacher has scored 10 goals in just 10 league starts, Middlesbrough and Sheffield United among those who scouted Nisbet during last week’s 1-0 Edinburgh derby victory over Hearts.
Middlesbrough and Sheffield United keen
In another era, with another man at the helm, Celtic would probably be, if not at the front of the queue, then certainly part of it. The Glasgow giants are a different club these days, however. Shopping in different stores. This is not to say they will never sign another homegrown talent from a league rival. But, after enjoying so much success in more far-flung markets, why deviate from a winning formula?
“(Nisbet) probably won’t be here (next season),” Hibs boss Lee Johnson tells the Scottish Sun on Friday.
“Someone will come in with a big bid. (A bid) we can’t turn down for someone who has a year left on his contract.”
As things stand, the smart money is on Nisbet moving south of the border. Millwall had a £2 million bid accepted in January, and remain interested. Sheffield United could offer the 26-year-old a shot at the Premier League; promotion almost a guarantee at Bramall Lane.
As for Celtic, however, the Parkhead ship may have long since sailed with Postecoglou now at the wheel.
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