Even by Celtic terms this one will go down as one of the stranest ever transfers.
The established first team player that requested a transfer because his partner had left Glasgow for Sporting Lisbon. Adding another Frank McAvennie twist news of Carl Starfelt’s imminent move has been confirmed by his Glasgow dentist, Dr Jonathan Fitzpatrick.
Welcome to the 2023 Transfer Window.
Fortunately in this case Celtic seem to have been proactive with Maik Nawrocki signed from Legia Warsaw before Starfelt’s transfer to Celta Vigo, 290 miles north of Lisbon, gained momentum.
It seemed a great move for the Celtic Ladies team when they signed Jacynta in February 2021, a few months later Carl Starfelt arrived from Rubin Kazan as Ange Postecoglou set about creating a brand new team.
Along the way the Swedish defender and the Australian striker teamed up, in the season ahead they’ll both be playing on the west coast of Iberia, one wearing green and white hoops with the other at Celta.
🙊El odontólogo Fitzpatrick le desea las mejores de las suerte en España a Carl Starfelt
Solo falta anuncio oficial por parte del RC Celta (@RCCelta ) ✍️ pic.twitter.com/wWwewVM89f
— CeltaNoticias (@CeltaNoticias10) August 7, 2023
Carl Starfelt va a jugar a España, en conclusión, no viene al Celta pic.twitter.com/9JuhVKv7az
— Gánez (@ganezrccv) August 7, 2023
The transfer rumours became reality on Saturday lunchtime when the Celtic side to face Ross County was named. Starfelt was on the bench with Nawrocki making his competitive debut alongside Cameron Carter-Vickers.
Before and after the match Brendan Rodgers gave away more detail of the transfer developments with a deal to Celta Vigo expected to be completed early this week.
The fee seems to be around the same £4m that Celtic spent two years ago which effectively covers the Nawrocki move from Legia Warsaw.
Now with just over three weeks to go in the transfer window Rodgers has to step up his efforts in the transfer market.
Yuki Kobayashi has dropped completely out the picture with the returning boss not impressed enough by Stephen Welsh or Liam Scales to name them among Saturday’s nine substitutes
Over recent transfer windows Celtic fans have become used to transfer business being completed early, so early that Alistair Johnston made his debut at Ibrox on January 2 which is traditionally a date when the SFA is closed for business.
The lack of midweek matches in August, especially Champions League qualifiers, gives Rodgers a little time to play with but away days at Aberdeen and Kilmarnock over the next two weekends look demanding.
Any hint of injury is likely to be highlighted at Rugby Park as Rodgers looks to extend his domestic cup record of seven out of seven.
Coupled with the absence of Alistair Johnston and the Celtic defence looks a little stretched, an issue that the manager will be well aware of.
The example of Nawrocki being brought in before Starfelt leaves suggests a degree of forward planning but the arrival of another first team ready central defender is definitely a priority while the search for Jota’s successor continues.
