Celtic hold all the aces with Moussa Dembélé but is £30m a fair price? | Ewan Murray

Jan 31, 2017

Celtic do not need to sell and the striker is not agitating for a move but the money being demanded from Chelsea may not reflect reality – even for a blue-chip asset

If only the valuation of players was an exact science. Instead, issues of fitness, form, the desperation of either the buying or selling club plus contractual status play a part. Sometimes they combine. In a fluctuating player-club power struggle salaries don’t multiply to the extent of desired transfer fee in the case of a meteoric rise. Where Celtic and Moussa Dembélé are concerned, a high price tag links to great debate; should Scottish football’s lowly status negatively impact on the value of a player when pursued from England?

What a wonderful alliance this has been. Dembélé has proven how Scotland – and particularly the Old Firm – can be a highly profitable calling point for a developing star. This applies to mindset more than technique; the insistence on constant success at Celtic and Rangers is significant to a level not regularly matched elsewhere.

Tags: Celtic Chelsea Football Sport Transfer window