Celtic chiefs will be ‘delighted’ after £3m deal agreed – pundit
Celtic will be disappointed to lose Ryan Christie – but they will be “delighted” they were able to recoup a fee.
So says ex-Scottish Premiership forward Noel Whelan, speaking exclusively to Football Insider after Celtic confirmed Christie’s exit on 31 August.
This site first broke news earlier that day that the Bournemouth had struck a £3million deal with the Hoops for the 26-year-old midfielder.
Speaking to Bournemouth’s media team, Christie rationalised his move when he claimed he has had “an affection for Bournemouth for years now.”
The Scotland international had just six months remaining on his contract at Parkhead before he left for the south coast.
And Whelan insists that, while there will be frustrations regarding the fee, Celtic will be happy not to have lost Christie on a free transfer in January.
He told Football Insider assistant editor Russell Edge: “They are probably a little disappointed, but you can’t allow the contract to get to that stage.
“To get a fee for him now is better than nothing in six months time. They would have liked to get more for him.
“But, unfortunately, the position they were in was not a strong one at that stage in his contract.
“It was something that was probably a bonus because he could have ended up going for nothing. They’ll be delighted with that.
“That fee has paid for the striker coming in, and a bit more.”
Celtic signed centre-forward Georgios Giakoumakis and winger Filipe Jota in the closing throes of the window to round off their summer business.
Christie was one of eight players who left the club on a permanent basis before the transfer cut-off.
In other news, Celtic board hailed by pundit as source reveals how much Crystal Palace will really pay for Odsonne Edouard.