Sunderland have only just secured their English Premier League (EPL) future for another season and they are already looking at strengthening their squad, so they don’t spend next season fighting off relegation yet again.

According to reports Celtic’s Nir Bitton could be topping the ‘Black Cats’ wish-list.

Celtic boss Ronny Deila has stated that he believes Bitton won’t be going anywhere during the next transfer window:

“He is going to stay here and try to help us qualify for the Champions League.”

We’ve obviously heard things like that before and then come the thirty-first of August those players depart Parkhead for the bright lights of the EPL.

Since I can remember the best players in Scotland’s top flight have departed for the riches that England has to offer.

But these days Celtic seem to have found the near perfect formula, when it comes to selling off their top talent to English teams. It comes with having a sound business model and a huge reputation.

Basically the time and price has to be right for Celtic Chief Executive Peter Lawwell to approve any departure away from the Glasgow club.

Nir Bitton has performed extremely well for the Scottish champions this season. Since the turn of the year, the Israeli international has been excelling in Celtic’s midfield.

The disciplined performer has also allowed Deila to get the best out of captain Scott Brown and seen Stefan Johansen revel in a position further forward.

Having a strong holding midfield player would certainly improve Sunderland’s pool.

But there is no rush for Celtic to sell the twenty-three year old. He signed in 2013 for £700k and is only halfway through his current deal.

That usually means that the Glasgow side will keep hold of their man for one more season. That will allow them to sell-on another star, who will generate a greater transfer fee. They also usually only allow one

Generally I can spot who will leave Celtic Park; Ki Sung-Yueng, Victor Wanyama, Gary Hooper and Fraser Forster all left at the right time.

So if I was putting money on a star player leaving the ‘Hoops’ this summer, I’d imagine that it would be Virgil van Dijk rather than Bitton. The Dutch defender has had two fantastic years with the Scottish Premiership champs and has been constantly linked with a big move down south.

By selling Van Dijk now they will probably get a premium fee, roughly between £8m-£12m.

See the reported £5m fee that has been mentioned in regards to Nir Bitton, just isn’t that appetising to the Celtic board.

I would imagine that Mr Lawwell would guess that he’d get the same kind of fee in 2016, as long as Nir doesn’t decline in talent.

The club would also believe that they would have a better chance of getting into the Champions League group stages with the defensive player in the heart of their midfield. Reaching the group stages would be worth more than gaining a quick profit on Nir Bitton.

If the Glasgow side were to reach that lucrative stage of the Champions League and the midfielder shines in Europe’s most elite competition then his fee will only grow.

I doubt Nir is in a hurry to leave Parkhead, he is still learning and he has a chance to get Champions League exposure next term. I’m sure the Israeli has enough confidence in his own ability to wait another year and then join a decent EPL side in 2016!

Simply I don’t think the money will be right this summer.

Posted on May 23rd, 2015 by scott
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