‘Stalled’ for £300k – Guidi Reveals Celtic’s Costly Transfer Blunder

Mark Guidi, speaking on Go Radio, has pointed out yet another example of how Celtic have missed out on a promising young Scottish talent due to financial hesitancy. Discussing how both Celtic and Rangers approach young Scottish players, the pundit didn’t hold back in his assessment of the situation with Aaron Hickey.

“Aaron Hickey, Celtic could have and should have signed Aaron Hickey, but kind of stalled over an extra £300k or £400k,” Guidi said, reflecting on the decision-making that saw the club lose out on the full-back. Hickey, a former Celtic academy player, was well within the club’s grasp, but they didn’t push the boat out to meet Hearts’ asking price. Instead, the defender made a move to Bologna for around £1.5 million, where he thrived, eventually earning a big transfer to Brentford in the English Premier League.

Guidi’s comments come in the wider context of how the Glasgow clubs, Celtic and Rangers, have at times failed to appreciate the value of homegrown talent. Hickey, a self-confessed Celtic fan, could have been a key asset for the Hoops, but instead, he’s now plying his trade in the Premier League, where he’s valued at upwards of £20 million.

Hickey’s journey is a case study in how players can slip through Celtic’s fingers over small financial decisions. At just 22 years old, he’s now an established Premier League defender, far beyond the club’s current spending power. Celtic’s view appeared to be they weren’t going to spend any more than a million on the defender. His proactivity in leaving Celtic’s academy for Hearts, where he had a clearer route to the first team, has paid off in a big way, allowing him to go from strength to strength in his career.

The situation brings to mind other notable misses for Celtic, such as John McGinn, another Celtic fan who ended up at Aston Villa after the Hoops failed to match Hibernian’s asking price. Both players have flourished after moving elsewhere, leaving many supporters to question the club’s reluctance to invest in Scottish talent when it’s right in front of them.