Thomas Tuchel had a few things to say regarding Marc Guéhi transfer collapse (Credits: Imago Images)
Celtic manager Martin O’Neill has revealed the inside story behind the club’s failed attempts to retain both Kelechi Iheanacho and Marcelo Saracchi this summer.
O’Neill said he was convinced a deal to bring Iheanacho back to Celtic was in place, only for the Nigerian striker to significantly increase his wage demands.
The forward ultimately signed with Turkish second division side Bursaspor after Celtic allowed a one-year extension option in his contract to expire without agreement.
O’Neill explained that the expectation was any option would be exercised on similar financial terms to those Iheanacho had previously agreed, but that was not what the player wanted.
The Celtic boss said: “There are always two sides to every transfer. He’s gone, I thought we had a deal with him at the time but that wasn’t the case and so he’s gone to pastures new.”
Reports indicate Iheanacho’s demands rose to as much as fifty thousand pounds per week, a figure Celtic were unwilling to match for the impact substitute role he had filled.
O’Neill added: “The option ran out, that’s fine. But the option would be to take someone on similar terms to before, so that’s where the difference was.”
The manager had also pursued another loan move for Boca Juniors left back Saracchi, but the Argentine club is pushing for a permanent transfer rather than a temporary arrangement.
Celtic were cautious about committing to a long-term contract for Saracchi given his recent injury history, and the former Leipzig defender ultimately moved on without a deal being struck.
O’Neill said of the Saracchi situation: “Again there are two sides to every story. Jokingly I said after he made the goal against Hearts I’d give him a 26-year deal, which was an exaggeration.”
The Uruguayan’s agent has claimed publicly that both player and representation did everything possible to engineer a return to Celtic, but circumstances prevented it from happening.
O’Neill also confirmed he has yet to hold key talks with Callum McGregor, with former Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou reportedly considering a move to take the captain to Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr.
Despite growing frustration among supporters over the lack of transfer activity, O’Neill insists recruitment is progressing behind the scenes at the club.
He said: “There has been progress. No timeframe. There’s no point saying Monday if they come in on Wednesday instead.”
O’Neill and Celtic drew 1-1 with Middlesbrough in a friendly at Parkhead on Saturday, with new signing Camilo Duran scoring the equaliser for the hosts.
The game was played in front of a notably sparse crowd, with many supporters choosing to stay away in protest at the slow pace of transfer business this pre-season.
O’Neill said of the performance: “For us improvement in fitness as much as anything else. I was pleased with some aspects, sometimes in possession we did really well but without the ball we could do better.”
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