Chris Sutton believes Celtic could earn a £14 million profit from the sale of Cameron Carter-Vickers if the former Tottenham Hotspur defender returns to the Premier League this year.
Now, the Scottish champions do not tend to make a habit of signings in the £5 million-plus bracket. So, when they paid £6 million to snap up Cameron Carter-Vickers in the summer of 2022, they did so obviously extremely confident that the America international would represent excellent value for money while possessing substantial re-sale potential.
Of course, the risks were reduced somewhat by Carter-Vickers’ impressive loan spell at Celtic during the 2021/22 season, the former Tottenham Hotspur youngster rewarded for his rock-solid performances with a permanent contract at Parkhead.
And Sutton, the legendary former Celtic striker, feels that reports linking Carter-Vickers with a return to English football is justification for the club’s sign(relatively) low and sell high policy, with the London-born 26-year-old destined to earn The Hoops a massive profit if he moves on a la Odsonne Edouard and Jota.
Former Tottenham man could be returning to England
“I can understand why fans would like to see just a little more spent on more proven quality to almost guarantee the win-win scenario,” Sutton tells the Daily Record.
“The club had no issues paying £9 million for Odsonne Edouard because they knew, barring a disaster, they were not going to lose money. In the end, they doubled their cash when Crystal Palace stepped onto the scene.
“Celtic had to spend £6m to get Jota signed. Paying that little more ended up netting them £25m when the Saudis came calling.”
Interestingly, Edouard, Jota and Carter-Vickers all had spells on loan at Celtic before signing full-time contracts. This ‘try before you buy’ approach, then, may be one the Glasgow giants would be advised repeating.
Celtic paid £6m for Cameron Carter-Vickers
“In the same summer (Jota arrived at Parkhead), Carter-Vickers cost the same £6 million. If the English do come knocking in the summer, I’d say you are looking at another £20 million,” Sutton adds.
“That’s really what the fans want to see. Chunky investments bringing even healthier returns. I’m fairly sure Carter-Vickers and (Matt) O’Riley will stay until at least the summer. But they’ll go one day. And their bumper transfer fees when departing will just push the narrative of ‘pay higher, sell higher’.
“Fans just want ready-made players who can go straight into the side and make it better.”
Carter-Vickers, who spent over a decade at Tottenham, has been linked with West Ham and Nottingham Forest (Daily Record).
HITC Football understands, meanwhile, that O’Riley has admirers all across the continent, including at former employers Fulham.
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