Gareth Taylor makes the third transfer for Liverpool this summer (Credits: Imago Images)
McAvennie has raised serious concerns about Celtic’s transfer activity after hearing whispers that majority shareholder Dermot Desmond is personally handling recruitment this summer.
The former Celtic striker shared his worries on his Let Me Be Frank podcast, suggesting the club’s approach to the window could frustrate newly appointed permanent manager Martin O’Neill.
McAvennie said: “I heard that Dermot is doing it [transfers] himself. He’s got a lot of time on his hands, but my God.”
He acknowledged Desmond’s business acumen but insisted football decisions should be left to football people, adding: “I think he is a very clever man, to make the money he has got he has got to be clever. But just leave it to the football guys.”
Celtic have been notably quiet since confirming O’Neill as their permanent manager, with supporters still waiting for news on his backroom staff and key squad decisions.
The futures of Kelechi Iheanacho and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain remain unresolved, with both players currently out of contract at Parkhead, adding further uncertainty to the squad’s shape.
Loanees including Marcelo Sarrachi also face unclear futures, compounding what has been a frustratingly slow start to the summer for the Scottish champions.
McAvennie expressed broader frustration at what he sees as a familiar pattern, saying: “I don’t see anything changing. I think it’s going to be the same as the last couple of seasons, last minute. Creeping for loans, and a club like Celtic shouldn’t do that.”
When asked about the possibility of Desmond adopting a data-driven approach to transfers, similar to Jamestown Analytics at Hearts, McAvennie made clear he had little confidence in the current direction.
He also pointed to a missed opportunity in the transfer market, specifically referencing Motherwell standout Elijah Just, who has been impressing at the World Cup with New Zealand.
McAvennie said the club should have moved for Just before the tournament began, stating: “We should have got him before he went to the World Cup. No chance of getting him now, I don’t think.”
The veteran pundit warned that O’Neill is not the type of manager who will accept having players simply handed to him without consultation, describing the reported situation as “so strange that it could be true.”
Celtic now face pressure to act decisively in the transfer market as they prepare to defend their Scottish title and mount a credible challenge in European competition next season.
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