Ever since Ange Postecoglou took the reigns at Celtic, many have been taken aback by the positively efficient, quick and ruthless nature of our transfer business. This January however, despite a brilliant start with the signings of Alistair Johnston, Yuki Kobayashi and Tomoki Iwata, everything seems to be playing out slightly more elongated and publicly than the manager may have liked.
Having lost count around the 10th of January, I would estimate there have been roughly 4567 differing reports regarding the impending destination of Cho Gue-Sung, and yet, no one seems to be any closer to knowing exactly what will happen. Tripled with this, is the consistent reports regarding the destiny of striker Giorgos Giakoumakis and full back Josip Juranovic.
It's not an entirely alien situation to Ange, as he had to deal with several wantaway stars during the opening stages of his tenure. This in turn is what played a part in such a large contingent of the playing staff evolving last season. In order to combat this in his own unique way, he ensures a distant personal relationship with his players, this is strictly business for the big Aussie as per a previous quote, “The guys who are going to leave will leave, that’s not my department. I’m concentrating on the ones who are involved"
It has to be said, that if there is any semblance of stress regarding player turnoverthis month, the gaffer certainly isn't showing it. In a recent press conference the rumours were addressed without revealing any names, whilst also incorporating several hints to not believe everything you read in the main stream press.
"The nature of the business is there is speculation for the whole of January. From my perspective, I don't really think about it unless it comes to me. Usually when it comes to me, it means there is something there.
"We haven't had anything like that for any player up until this point, everyone is totally focused on the game. There is no feeling of any instability or uncertainty in the group. They are training hard."
The potentiality of instability did need to be addressed, as rumours of outgoings inevitably worm into the mental psyche of players. Social media has been rife with opinionated posts regarding the body language of Giakoumakis whilst Juranovic's performance at Ibrox left him open to pelters, especially after such an impressive World Cup campaign. Postecoglou will ensure that everything in his power is done to protect the players whilst they are still wearing the hoops.
And if you are glued to the Celtic forum's hoping for any updates, it might be worth taking this quote from Postecoglou into account: "I'm not across it all the time, but I am kept abreast and I reckon around 10 per cent of what's out there at the moment is anywhere close to the truth,"
"That's not because I think people are being deliberately misleading, it's just that they get a bit of information from their cousin's barber's neighbour and it becomes 'Celtic are linked to certain players'.
Whatever happens towards the end of the window, there is certainly nothing to suggest that the working environment around Lennoxtown will suffer. A culture of attacking football between like minded players established through relentless hard work and a consistent message will ensure that. Transfer rumours will be the last thing on the players mind as they look to fire Celtic into the league cup final this afternoon.
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