‘Downsizing continues’ ‘Squad looking Conference level’ ‘Managed decline’ £52m image causing Celtic fans grief

As the Nicolas Kuhn transfer fee dropped into the Celtic bank account on Friday an image from 11 months ago started to gain traction across social media.

On the back of a highly impressive pre-season trip to the USA Celtic opened their defence of the SPFL Premiership with a 4-0 win at home to Kilmarnock.

Kuhn continued his outstanding pre-season form, scoring Celtic’s third goal as he cut in off the right wing to strike a shot past Robbie McCrorie to put Celtic 3-0 in front.

Joining him in the celebrations were team-mates Matt O’Riley and Kyogo Furuhashi, when Celtic open their defence of the SPFL title at home to St Mirren in three weeks none of that trio will be on the team-sheet.

And yet a substantial, perhaps a majority of Celtic supporters see the sale of Kuhn as a measure of success, similar to a trophy win like the Close Season Cup and Transfer Window trophy celebrated at Ibrox every summer.

They seem to forget that Celtic have a Champions League Play Off in less than six weeks time with the winger options available to Brendan Rodgers consists of Daizen Maeda, James Forrest and Yang Hyun-jun. Luis Palma and Marco Tilio can surely be discounted…

Some might argue that Maeda is better utilised as a striker, Forrest should be used only as a substitute while Yang’s two seasons at Celtic have produced little more than half a dozen worthwhile appearances, mainly off the bench.

Others, in the boardroom rub their hands, pat each other on the back and look across the city to remind themselves of their own brilliance.

It’s mad to think this image was from the start of last season and less then a year old. pic.twitter.com/uvtrTVMvJA

— Lewis 🍀 (@CelticBhoy41) July 11, 2025

It wouldn’t be a surprise if the image above will soon be framed and taking pride of place in Michael Nicholson’s office.

Selling players is all part of the modern game- the issue at Celtic is over how it is done.

With the exception of Alistair Johnston being signed ahead of the transfer of Josip Juranovic there is virtually no evidence of succession planning.

Peter Lawwell became Chairman of Celtic on 1 January 2023.

Ahead of selling Kuhn the Celtic bank balance was probably sitting somewhere between £80-100m.

Despite that, or perhaps to reinforce it, it seems that the club will only reinvest in the squad to the tune of the incoming transfer fees. There is a strict order as to how signing business is completed.

Last year, after Nicholson had botched the signings of Paulo Bernardo and Adam Idah incoming deals were put on hold until the sale of O’Riley, the departure of the midfielder had been inevitable since spring time.

A deal was struck with Brighton on August 26, four days later Luke McCowan, Arne Engels and Auston Trusty were signed. Like Idah and Engels they had missed out on pre-season training, a fortnight later they were playing in the Champions League with their new club.

Kyogo was sold in January, Nicholson failed to come up with a replacement, next week Shin Yamada is expected to sign for £8m less than the fee received from Rennes six months earlier.

And so it goes on, with one difference.

Brendan Rodgers is out of contract in 11 months time, it seems that nothing has changed since 2018 to support the realistic ambitions of the Irishman with a track record for delivering success on the park and on the cherished Balance Sheet.

It would be a shock if Rodgers opts to put himself through another summer of bungled transfer dealing while the Celtic Balance Sheet sits comfortably over £100m with the Corporation Tax bill to HMRC coming in at more than is spent on any football player.

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And the 3 of them haven’t been replaced! 🤷🏻‍♂️

— DANNYBHOY88 (@Danielh15215783) July 11, 2025

Downsizing continues

— Bobby Bentlegs (@Bobbybentlegs) July 11, 2025

We are a selling club for profit,progress is irrelevant to the bean counters.

— brian flynn (@brianflynn2) July 11, 2025

None of them replaced 😞

— Bungo_FCSP ☠️ (@Bungo_StPauli) July 11, 2025

And what have we got in exchange

— Sceptical (@Sceptic43119942) July 11, 2025

And not even close to been replaced

— Dave Knox (@DaveKnox02) July 11, 2025

Spend it then

— 🍀 Scotlands most Successful Club 🍀 (@notleksF1) July 11, 2025

At least we’ve reinvested it in the team….oh hold on

— Brian Wright (@BriWright1967) July 12, 2025

And then there were none.

— John (@CandyBarXpress) July 11, 2025

And barely any of it spent. It’s a joke

— Sean Mc (@SeanMc523698818) July 11, 2025

I hope this isn’t intended as a boast – Our fans should spend less time buzzing about selling our best players for loads of cash and more time wondering why we don’t properly reinvest to compete at the top level.

— Vincent Hanna (@TierneySZNx) July 11, 2025

We need to start bringing serious players in or we can forget about the CLQ and league title , this squad is far to weak , we need at least 6 players who will make the team and squad much stronger.

— brian (@Ireland1997) July 11, 2025

squad looking conference level without them

— Salvia Bucket (@salviabucket) July 11, 2025

Heated driveways don’t come cheap.

— ChristyD (@ChristyD94) July 11, 2025