Sebastian Tounekti – Celtic’s woeful window worsens

The latest act in this saga concerns Sebastian Tounekti, the winger whose potential arrival had some of us –okay maybe it was just me – clinging to rumours as if they were gospel, mainly because the source of said gospel had 75,000 followers on Facebook. A more reliable yardstick than most tabloids, some might argue!

So, yes, Tounekti.

At first, it looked like the Swedish press and fan accounts were ushering him straight into Glasgow for a medical. Then reality struck. Expressen via the Daily Record now report that Hammarby have rejected a third Celtic bid, reported to be £5.5m, and their Sporting Director is doing his best to sound polite while hammering the door shut.

“Nothing is set in stone in this business,” he admitted, before twisting the knife.

“We have had a great dialogue with Seb and a clear dialogue with Celtic that we have no ambition to sell. It is not that we have made a counter-offer. We have really just said no.”

Ouch. No counter-offer. Just… no. That’s the transfer equivalent of ghosting someone after the first date.

And all this comes hot on the heels of the Kasper Dolberg deal falling apart and the fallback option of Sekou Mara disappearing into thin air.

Journalist Mark Hendry reported earlier today that Mara was a loan option, now it seems he’s is Auxerre-bound, which is no great loss, to be fair. His scoring record made Tony Cascarino look prolific, so perhaps Celtic dodged a bullet there. Still, the rumour barely had time to settle before it evaporated.

In fairness, the story isn’t completely dead. Tounekti himself has been refreshingly honest about the situation.

“I think the interest is still there, and I know they probably won’t give up yet. That’s what I’ve heard. They’re going to go all in. So we’ll see what happens. I’m very happy here, but it’s great to see such interest. It’s difficult to answer that right now. Things can happen quickly in football.

“The window closes tomorrow. I understand Hammarby. They want to win matches in the autumn and I’ve been given a good role in the team. So, I understand Hammarby’s side. But there’s a lot of money involved and it will be exciting to see what happens.”

Translation? Celtic still have time to chuck more cash at it because it seems the player at least is keen to move..

And if they don’t, I’ll be filing my next article under “Transfer Window Therapy,” complete with a whisky chaser and language unfit for print.

Celtic in the Eighties – Out on Friday!

All pre-order copies will be posted out by tomorrow. Celtic in the Eighties is published on Friday 5 September by Celtic Star Books. All orders already received will receive a copy signed by Danny McGrain however the signed copies have now sold out.