Anthony Joseph has confirmed that Celtic are in talks over signing the midfielder almost out of nowhere, as the effect of no Champions League football is felt.
Celtic have failed to qualify for the Champions League once again. And it looks like that is going to have a negative impact on the business they are about to do this summer.
For so long, it had looked like the club were about to sign Ermin Mahmic. But now, it appears that he is suddenly headed to Turkey instead.
Many fans believed that Mahmic had the potential to be an excellent addition to this Celtic team and a possible regular starter in the future. So, one has to feel very disappointed by this transfer miss.
On the other hand, a fresh name is being linked with a move to Celtic Park. Unfortunately, it might not be one that impresses the club's supporters.
Celtic in talks to sign PSV midfielder
According to Anthony Joseph, Celtic are in talks to sign PSV Eindhoven midfielder Joel van den Berg.
It’s understood that the clubs are locked in discussions over a potential deal for Van den Berg, who has been left out of the squad for tonight’s match against RKC Waalwijk due to the transfer negotiations.
Of course, Van den Berg is not a name that has been doing the rounds of the Celtic rumour mill this summer. He is a fresh one.
And one can clearly feel the effects of the club's failure to qualify for the Champions League, after surrendering a four-goal advantage with less than an hour to go.
It had looked like Celtic had far more high-profile targets than Van den Berg. But now, they might need to adjust their targets.
Champions League failure compounds transfer problems
Of course, let us not forget that the club are still within a transfer profit this summer, when you consider the outgoings and incomings. It is hard to remember the last time that was not the case.
And once again, you can claim that more ambition should have been shown in time to secure Champions League qualification. Missing out on the competition means missing out on about £70 million-plus of revenue as well. A spot in the Europa League simply cannot compete with that.
Van den Berg might be a decent talent. But at the end of the day, he has played only eight games of senior football.
If Celtic had made it to the Champions League, I have serious doubts that he would have been the player the club would have tried to sign this summer.
