Quick thread on transfer market. Reports of Southampton financial distress have fueled SMSM articles speculating about the distress creating opportunities for Celtic to sign Forster and Mohamed Elyounoussi. Is it realistic and what does it mean if there are a lot of Southamptons?

First, I have zero knowledge of UK or EU nation employment contract laws so my comments should be taken in that context. Forster is on 70k a week through 21-22 and Moi on 60k a week through 22-23. Obviously those wages are way outside Celtic's wage structure, let alone both.

Why would the players proactively accept a 50% wage cut that aggregate to millions on their remaining contracts and why would Celtic also agree to pay a hefty transfer fee to pay each 30k a week? Are we to expect Celtic's wage structure to be unperturbed by the crisis?

Given that there are likely to be many Southamptons across Europe, I would argue that players like Forster and Moi have negative transfer values. If clubs enter liquidation then they become free agents but their market rate is likely well below their current contract wages.

But Southampton is possibly already in cash distress and may not have resources to buyout contracts or buy down transfer fees to subsidize above market wages so acquiring teams take on the contracts. All of this complexity of self interest makes me think that market may seize up.

Like real estate markets do when cycles shift as sellers remain anchored on what their neighbor's house sold for. If I am Moi & owed over 9 million the next 3 years in this climate, would I agree to a huge wage cut? The seizing is likely to result in the damn bursting at some pt.

Can't see why a club in Celtic's position would be proactive at this point instead of letting the market develop. I'd expect tons articles to be written about the same speculation for months! End