Celtic are reported to have ended their interest in Mateusz Bogusz, the truth is that any deal was probably beyond the capability of Michael Nicholson.
Tonight’s update comes in a brief report from Mark Hendry of Football Scotland, a trusted source of information from inside Celtic Park as the club builds a relationship with the digital branch of their friends at the Daily Record.
Bogusz came into the spotlight last week from a report in his native Poland with other trusted sources like Anthony Joseph of Sky Sports following up with updates on the state of negotiations.
Now more than three months after the Scottish Cup Final CEO Nicholson has only been able to add a 20-year-old on loan from Barcelona to Brendan Rodgers’ outfield options.
Nicholson was guided through the January 2022 transfer window by Ange Postecoglou and his agent Frank Trimboli following the outstanding work of Dom McKay during the greatest transfer window in Celtic’s history in the summer of 2021.
Since the appointment of Mark Lawwell in July 2022 Recruitment has taken a massive downturn with players like Sead Haksabanovic, Oh Hyeon-gyu, Ben Siegrist and Yuki Kobayashi bought and sold, draining wages and contributing very little. In the Ferbruary win away to Hibs Alexandro Bernabei was the most expensive player in the Celtic side, the following month he was sent out of sight on loan to Internacional of Brazil.
With Rodgers cranking up the pressure on Sunday the spotlight is firmly on Nicholson to deliver on the transfer front, not normally a skill that you’d associate with a Sports Lawyer that is afraid to even provide an interview to Celtic’s in-house channels.
Tonight in Football Scotland Hendry reveals:
Celtic are no longer in pursuit of Mateusz Bogusz, Football Scotland understands.
The LAFC attacking midfielder emerged as a transfer target for the Scottish champions last week as they looked to replace Matt O’Riley who joined Brighton for a record transfer fee earlier this week. Bogusz was named as an option.
But Football Scotland understands Arne Engels is the £10million priority and there are other names in the frame with Bogusz now no longer being targeted.
Clearly Football Scotland have aquired that story with the Engels sweetener wihich has seen the fee rise by 50% since the opening offer made on Monday.
Over the last 48 hours Joseph of Sky Sports has reported that the bids made for Engels have increased from £6.5m to £9m, according to the Glasgow Times tonight the latest offer is £10m for a 20-year-old Belgian with one season in the Bundesliga under his belt.
With Bogusz now out of contention it appears that Augsburg are now in an even stronger negotiating position with Rodgers stating after the League Cup win over Hibs that he’d expect two midfielders to arrive if Matt O’Riley is sold.
Luke McCowan from Dundee is expected to be the other signing with the news for that deal likely to be held back for a double announcement with Odin Thiago Holm going out on loan to Dundee as part of the McCowan deal.
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12 Comments
by Redmond
The fact this board use a rag like the record as their outlet shows how far removed they are from the fans – and decency. Absolute scumbag of a paper that shows Celtic no love whatsoever. The board can now revel in the fact they have taken in £50m since January with £17m outgoings (unless they spend on Engels and CB). Another example of how out of touch they are with the fans. What other ‘successful’ business shows such contempt towards their customers?
by Stephen
Awful story..your another one that when something goes well it’s Brenda or ange works magic…when a deal collapses it’s Nicholsons fault.. do you know the reasons it’s collapsed???? Utter trash
by Editor
Interesting that Pete’s poodles have found this site and have no defence for their £3.5m a year super hero.
Ange had two outstanding windows, Nicholson is doing as his mentor instructs by shifting assets from the dressing room to the Balance Sheet.
Under Ronny Disaster Lawwell almost managed to empty Celtic Park, Maribor and Malmo denied the club £20m plus each season, Hampden became a bogey ground, trebles were for other clubs, other times. Rodgers 2016 changed that entirely till the 2018 season of McGinn and Shved.
Poodles will be taken apart on this site, share your outrage with the old farts over on CQN.
by Gordon Raeburn
If this is true it does not surprise me one little bit. Does the Invisible Man Nicholson actually exist or is he Lawwell wearing a mask. This board need run out of town. On Sunday once we take care of Sevco we should make sure they know how we feel. Mind you Pete will just tell us all to ” calm down “.
by Gezobel
Can’t say I’m that bothered we’re probably safer with McCowan anyway. Engels is the one we really want and then Trusty. Blaming the Board for not getting every man we are after is puerile in the extreme. Some fans should just shut up about business dealings they know absolutely nothing about and leave such complicated matters to Brendan and the Board
by Editor
Anthony Joseph had been providing more than daily updates on Bogusz, Nicholson couldn’t complete a deal, not even in hourly contact with his Accountant pal.
Some fans should just shut up about business dealings and just head back to the boot licking comfort of CQN
by Harryshatrick
After watching Bogusz perform for LAFC against Columbus at the weekend Im pretty happy about this news.
by John Fitzpatrick
Is that you Lawwell
by Editor
Fortunately the guy that has delivered nine out of 10 domestic trophies takes a different view and wanted Bogusz signed. Some folk thought that Soro and Shved were players because they were told to think that.
by Harryshatrick
After watching Bogusz perform this weekend for LAFC Im more than happy about this news ,played for 60 minutes then subbed for Tillman.
by GREG
Come on guys
did you honestly believe that these players were going to come to Celtic really, really then you really are naive and have very short memories. we get screwed every transfer widow by the board and it will keep happening because they are untouchable and there is nothing we can do about it.
Looks like we better get ready for another embarrassing Champions League campaign because this side is weaker than last year’s.
But on the bright side we have got millions of pounds in the bank and we are the best run football club in the UK LOL
by SFTB
One Voice.
One Orthodoxy.
No dissent tolerated.
Come & Join us!😀
Give us a break
Soon to be deleted commentator csc