CELTIC’S £18.25 million RIDDLE

CELTIC’S £18.25 million RIDDLE

You can add £1 million to that figure to reflect the amount agreed upon for Japanese midfielder Tomoki Iwata when his original loan move from Yokohama F Marinos became permanent.

None of the new Bhoys appeared in the Scottish Cup Final victory over Philippe Clement’s Ibrox team at Hampden on May 25, as the Hoops completed a successful double season.

Two of the newcomers, Marco Tilio and Kwon Hyeok-kyu, did not even finish their contracts at Parkhead since they were loaned out at the end of the year.

CRUNCH…£4.3million Maik Nawrocki clashes with Aberdeen’s Killian Phillips in Celtic’s 1-1 draw at Pittodrie in February.

Early on, it became clear that the most, if not all, of the transactions had been completed prior to Brendan Rodgers‘ return in June.

The Irishman, however, would have been involved when two players, Liverpool’s Nat Phillips and Benfica’s Paulo Bernardo, joined on loan just before the September 1 midnight deadline.

The English centre-back signed a short-term contract until the end of the year, although the arrangement allowed for the move to be extended if all sides agreed.

Phillips’ dismal performance, including a horrific own goal, in the team’s first league defeat of the season against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park on December 10 ensured that his services would not be required in 2024.

He returned to Anfield and was immediately involved in another temporary move to Championship club Cardiff City.

CRESTFALLEN…£3million defender Gustaf Lagerbielke can’t hide his disappointment after the 1-0 League Cup defeat against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park in August.

Bernardo, on the other hand, finished the season on a high note, playing a key role in Hampden’s victory, which secured a league and Cup double.

The skilled Portuguese playmaker’s rush from the middle of the pitch and wicked 25-yard drive perplexed Jack Butland, forcing the Ibrox keeper to desperately claw the ball away, which Adam Idah pounced on to score the 90th-minute winner.

Now we wait to see if the Hoops will pursue their interest in the £6 million-plus 22-year-old midfielder who fits perfectly into the champions’ transfer plan.

Idah, with nine goals since his January loan move from Norwich City, fits into the same group.

It is fair to assume that the Republic of Ireland international behemoth made a greater effect in his four months than any of the seven summer signings.

The most costly spend was £4.3 million for Legia Warsaw’s Maik Nawrocki, while Gustaf Lagerbielke cost £3 million from Elfsborg.

HEADING FOR A FALL…£2.25million Odin Holm crashes to the turf after a challenge from Kilmarnock’s Daniel Armstrong in the League Cup exit at Rugby Park.

The former Poland Under-21 defender made 11 appearances, while his partner centre-back made 10 in injury-plagued rookie campaigns.

They only played together once, in August’s 1-0 League Cup loss to Kilmarnock, and have struggled for game time since.

Odin Holm, signed from Valerenga for £2.25 million, started at Rugby Park that fateful afternoon and made only 12 other appearances, scoring once in a 5-0 Scottish Cup victory over non-league Buckie Thistle.

Luis Palma, a £3.5 million transfer from Aris Thessaloniki, showed flashes of genuine class and scored ten goals, but consistency eluded him, and Rodgers increased his threat from the flanks by paying £3 million to Rapid Vienna for Nicolas Kuhn in January.

At the very least, the Honduran flanker was named to the substitutes’ bench for the Scottish Cup Final, with Nawrocki and Iwata.

Australian international Tilio, who cost £2 million, played only 28 minutes before being loaned back to Melbourne City, while South Korean midfielder Kwon Hyeok-kyu, who cost £850,000 from Busan I-Park, had not played a competitive game until joining St Mirren in January.

HAPPIER TIMES…£2million Marco Tilio proudly holds his Celtic shirt following his June arrival.

Kwon’s counterpart, Yang Hyun-jun, was brought in for £2.1 million and looked explosive on occasion, but his defensive work was almost non-existent, as evidenced at Ibrox in April when he gave Rabbi Matonda a clear opportunity for the stoppage-time equaliser in the 3-3 draw.

He has started 12 matches in 31 appearances, and his skill set shows undeniable promise.

The question is, will we see such attributes in the champions?

You might ask the same question to the other six Celtic players who came at the same time.

SUMMER 2023 ARRIVALS

Odin Holm (£2.25 million, Valerenga)

Marco Tilio (£2 million, Melbourne City).

Yang Hyun-jun (£2.1 million, Gangwon FC)

Kwon Hyeok-kyu (£850,000; Busan I-Park)

Maik Nawrocki (£4.3 million, Legia Warsaw).

Gustaf Lagerbiekle (£3 million, Elfsborg).

Luis Palma (£3.5 million, Aris Thessaloniki)

Nat Phillips (Loan, Liverpool)

Paulo Bernardo (loan to Benfica)

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