Cameron Carter-Vickers: ‘Massive’ Celtic transfer claim issued after ‘£40m’ Kieran Maguire reveal
Alex McLeish has suggested even £20million Champions League qualification may not be enough for Celtic to sign Cameron Carter-Vickers permanently from Tottenham this summer.
The former Scotland manager, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, admitted the Bhoys may find themselves blown out of the water by rival suitors for the 24-year-old despite being a “massive club”.
As quoted by the Daily Record (12 March), Ange Postecoglou revealed he hoped qualifying for the Champions League would help convince loan stars Carter-Vickers and Jota to pen permanent deals at Parkhead.
American football news website SBI Soccer (7 March) report both Leicester City and Wolves are interested in signing the centre-back.
McLeish admitted even Champions League football might not be enough for the Bhoys to do a deal.
But qualification for the competition is worth a minimum £20million and, as explained by football finance expert Kieran Maguire to Football Insider, can quickly climb to £40m and beyond from “a few good results”.
McLeish told Football Insider’s Russell Edge: “It’s straight into the Champions League for the (Premiership) winner this year. It is absolutely like winning the lottery for countries that don’t have great revenue streams.
“Celtic are a massive club and they can generate money in other ways.
“You would think that Carter-Vickers would attract attention due to the vast improvement that he has made in the team.
“At first it was very difficult. It looked like as if he was just a trialist in the first few games.
“But he has become a very solid performer for them.
“I don’t know if Celtic will go to the kind of levels Spurs will expect to receive.”
Carter-Vickers has made 36 appearances for Celtic this season, more than he has made for any other club.
His contract at Tottenham expires in the summer of 2023.
In other news, pundit slams Celtic star embarrassed by Reo Hatate.