Celtic were once again linked this week with a move for Motherwell starlet Lennon Miller.
The 18 year old delivered another stand-out performance in his side’s 2-1 win over Rangers last week, which no doubt endeared him further to the Celtic support.
Ignore the Hype From the Usual Suspects
Of course, no sooner have stories linking Celtic with another move for the player this summer come to light, than the usual tabloid hacks set about their sabotage mission.
Contrary to what you read in the red tops, Lyon are not about to bid 8 million for Miller. Although if he continues to develop at his current rate, then he may well command that kind of fee, and then some, in the future.
4 Million is a Sound Piece of Business For Celtic
People with some actual knowledge of the player, and his situation at Motherwell have intimated that the Fir Park side would be seriously tempted by offers in the 4 million pound range.
If indeed that is true, then I hope Celtic will act, and act fast, once the summer window opens.
In a league where young, emerging talent remains sadly thin on the ground Lennon Miller has been a revelation since breaking into the Steelmen’s starting eleven. This is player who, not long after turning 18 years old, captained his side in a Scottish League Cup semi-final. Since then, he has led the Motherwell midfield with increasing gusto.
He’s helped what is, in all honesty, a pretty mediocre team achieve some unexpectedly good results against better opposition, and Rangers.
Miller has the Ability and the Character Celtic Need
Miller’s ability, particularly in a creative sense has drawn no shortage of interest. It is indeed true that the Italian side Udinese and Belgium’s Union Saint Gilloise inquired about him in January. However, he remains contracted to Motherwell until 2026.
More importantly for Celtic though, he has shown he can handle the big occasions. He has a maturity and an elegance to his style of play that far exceeds his years.
That is what gives him the edge over other precocious young talents in the Scottish Premiership. Playing for Celtic is as much about confidence as it is about ability. We’ve seen numerous young players show potential, but in the end fail to make their mark on the first team. I believe Miller could break that mold.
As Celtic Earn More, We Should Pay More
The one sticking point in a potential deal is the fee. It’s pocket change to Celtic, but the debate among fans goes like this: “Is Miller really worth 4 million. In fact, is any player in the SPFL outside of Celtic worth that much these days?”
Motherwell fans would, naturally, say “damn right, of course he is!”
And just for moment, let’s put ourselves in their shoes. I said on Tuesday’s ACSOM bulletin, that if any club seriously want’s to buy Daizen Maeda from Celtic, then we shouldn’t accept any less than 30 to 40 million. That was not hyperbolae, I was being serious.
He’s a player who offers so much, in so many areas, for Celtic that I honestly believe it would cost that, and probably a whole lot more, to replace him properly.
Motherwell are in the same boat now.
Miller is their star man. He is under contract with them, and selling him would massively weaken their team. So, naturally, we will have to pay that bit more to get him.
We’d demand funny money to sell Daizen, so comparatively speaking I really can’t blame Motherwell fans for feeling the same way about their best player.
The Trap of the Superiority Complex
I remember when Celtic appointed Ange Postecoglou as manager back in 2021. The Scottish press reveled in ridiculing this "unknown" from a “mickey mouse league”.
Conveniently glossing over the fact that both Japan and Australia have been to far more World Cups in the past 3 decades than Scotland’s grand total of 1!
However, for Celtic fans, this kind of “banter” is nothing new. We hear it week in, week out from fans immersed in the utter mediocrity that is any team outside the top 10 in England. This is why, in the past we've let star performers like Victor Wanyama and Virgil Van Dijk go for far less money than we should have.
That is not the case today though. First Matt O’Reilly and more recently Kyogo serve to prove: If you want one of Celtic’s star performers, you’ll pay us what we want.
So, let’s not look down on Motherwell the same way fans of clubs like Southampton look down on us.
Lennon Miller is a bargain at 4 million. Celtic should snap him up before someone else does.