A Bundesliga journalist has claimed that the transfer fee attributed to Celtic defender Jeremie Frimpong is incorrect in claims which will have Rangers fans in stitches.
According to Stefan Bienkowski – who covers the German top tier for the Independent – claims sources have told him Bayer Leverkusen “paid under €10m (£8.8m)” for the right-back.
The journalist also claims that when you factor in Manchester City’s cut – reported to be 30% – then the fee Celtic receive “won’t be much”.
That’s despite reports – including this one in the Daily Record report – claiming the Parkhead club could receive up to £11.5m (€13m) for the player.
Bienkowski’s claims suggest that Celtic received around £6.16m for the player, which is still an admirable amount given the 20-year-old full-back only cost the club £350k.
Whilst the story relates to Celtic, Rangers fans will find the notion that the transfer fee has been embellished rather amusing, even if unsurprising.
Especially when you consider Celtic legend Danny McGrain once claimed he could be sold for £50m or when many of their supporters claimed he was a more effective player than James Tavernier.
Celtic have a woeful season and as some of their best talents begin to jump ship, some might say any embellishment of the transfer fee is to ease the woes of our rival’s pain.
You can tell by the fall-out on the journalist’s Twitter that the suggestion the fee being quoted isn’t the right one has tipped a few of them over the edge.
Others might claim that it’s an example of Celtic’s transfer business being overplayed in the press whilst valuations attached to Rangers stars are often talked down.
To give the Parkhead club their dues, this is the kind of transfer business that Rangers should be looking to complete even it might not be as exorbitant as reported.
The fact Frimpong got such a substantial fee proves that Rangers cannot undervalue the club’s best assets going forward.
