Pundit Alex McLeish has been reacting to an update on Celtic loanee Cameron Carter-Vickers, Football Insider report.
The Lowdown: Ange’s comments; Maguire’s reveal
The Hoops have an option to make the defender’s move permanent in the summer, with Ange Postecoglou admitting he is hopeful that qualifying for the Champions League would help Carter-Vickers and Jota pen long-term deals in Glasgow.
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Financial expert Kieran Maguire, who contributes for Sky Sports, revealed that Champions League qualification would pocket the club £20m at the worst, whereas progressing to the knock-out stages could double those figures.
Carter-Vickers has been a regular for the Hoops this season and is now attracting interest from multiple Premier League clubs ahead of the summer window.
The Latest: McLeish’s comments
McLeish was talking to Football Insider about Champions League football but admitted even group stage qualification might not be enough to persuade the centre-back to stay.
“It’s straight into the Champions League for the (Premiership) winner this year. It is absolutely like winning the lottery for countries that don’t have great revenue streams.
“Celtic are a massive club and they can generate money in other ways.
“You would think that Carter-Vickers would attract attention due to the vast improvement that he has made in the team.
“At first it was very difficult. It looked like as if he was just a trialist in the first few games.
“But he has become a very solid performer for them.
“I don’t know if Celtic will go to the kind of levels Spurs will expect to receive.”
The Verdict: Down to the player…
You’d like to think that the USA international would be open to committing his future to Celtic, as he has made more appearances for the Hoops (36) than any other club in his career.
This is his seventh loan spell away from Tottenham and he may finally feel at home in Scotland, but ultimately, he’ll be the one to have a major say in his next move, regardless of Celtic’s option to buy clause.
Winning the Premiership and going straight into the Champions League may only boost Celtic’s chances of signing the player on a permanent deal, so it could be a crucial few months ahead.
In other news: BBC Radio 5 Live man hits out at Celtic player after penning Parkhead deal worth whopping £2.9m.