Celtic were able to lure Moussa Dembele to Parkhead this summer.
The Premier League’s £5.1 billion TV deal has made life even tougher for Scottish clubs in the transfer market.
However, there is one way in which the likes of Celtic have been able to compete in recent windows, as the Bhoys proved with their capture of Fulham’s Moussa Dembele.
Whereas English clubs can expect to pay top dollar to land top domestic prospects such as the Frenchman – even if they are out of contract – thanks to UEFA rules those north of the border can snap them up for relative peanuts.
With that in mind, here are three (well, four) under-24 talents Brendan Rodgers’ side could snare for next-to-nothing next summer:
Andrew Robertson (Hull City)
Kieran Tierney is a wanted man, if reports are to be believed, and Celtic may be powerless to keep him. However, they could still make the best of it by signing the 19-year-old’s Scotland rival, Robertson, to replace him, with the former Dundee United man yet to commit to the Tigers.
Jacob and Josh Murphy (Norwich City)
The Murphy twins have impressed in this season’s Championship, scoring six goals and assisting another four between them. They have not yet signed up for next year, however, and a move to Parkhead may appeal if Norwich fail to go up – or if a Premier League club is unable to offer the minutes they require. With Patrick Roberts due back at Manchester City, Celtic should be able to offer the latter incentive.
Dominic Solanke (Chelsea)
Celtic may be in the market for another striker if Dembele continues to excel and the solution could be another west London-based teen. Solanke, who has three caps for England’s Under-21s and trained with the seniors after being crowned Men’s Youth Player of the Year in 2014, is yet to commit to a new contract and reportedly requested £50,000-a-week last season. Such demands could perhaps put him out of the Bhoys’ reach, but the Scottish champions would be able to offer regular first-team football as a compromise.
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