Finance guru tips Celtic to use four ‘high-quality’ stars as ‘leverage’ in talks
Celtic could use their “high-quality” Japanese stars as “leverage” to secure the best deal for a pre-season tour in the region.
That is the view of finance expert Doctor Dan Plumley, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about the SPFL’s new Japanese TV deal.
Sport Business reported last Monday (18 July) that SPOTV has bought the rights to broadcast 38 matches of the 2022-23 Scottish Premiership season.
Their coverage will centre mainly on Celtic where Japan stars Reo Hatate, Yosuke Ideguich, Daizen Maeda and Kyogo Furuhashi all ply their trade.
There is also regional interest in the manager, Ange Postecoglou, who led the Hoops to the league title in 2021-22 after joining from J1 League side Yokohama F. Marinos in June last year.
Plumley argues that commercial opportunities may have played a prominent part in Celtic’s decision to bring Japanese talent to Parkhead.
“I think it could be seen as a deliberate play by Celtic to sign these players,” the Sheffield Hallam University expert told Football Insider’s Adam Williams.
“Scottish football overall struggles in the overseas market because the overseas market wants the big five leagues.
“But if you look to sign high-quality players from certain markets, that generates exposure and Celtic will be well aware of that.
“There is some happy coincidence that this company have gone in for the rights, but would they have gone in for them if those players hadn’t been there?
“In many ways, I think it’s becoming deliberate for clubs to sign players from these markets. Celtic can leverage this through pre-season tours.”
In other news, Celtic expert cites Scott Brown in “unbelievable” verdict after transfer update via Sky