JOSH BROWNHILL: CELTIC COULD USE AN “AULD HEID” LIKE HIM IN MIDFIELD
- BY LIAM CARRIGAN
- Jul 29
- 3 min read
It probably seems ridiculous to describe someone who isn’t even 30 until December as an “auld heid”, but compared to most of the players around him, that’s exactly what Josh Brownhill would be if the free agent did find his way to Celtic.
However, even coming from a modest team like Burnley, his pay demands would be substantial.
Salary the Obvious Stumbling Block to Josh Brownhill Celtic Move, But Not Insurmountable
For the final year of his Burnley contract, Brownhill was on 45,000 pounds a week.
Celtic’s current highest earners, according to data released in May of this year are Callum McGregor and Cameron Carter-Vickers, both currently on 37,000 per week.
However, if and when Celtic finally get round to giving Daizen Maeda the new contract I think we all agree he deserves, I would expect this figure to nudge closer to the 50k mark.
There’s no doubt in my mind, that if Daizen extends his contract, which is currently a modest 18,000 pounds per week, then he will become one of the highest, if not Celtic’s highest, weekly wage earner.
But, for the time being, as it stands, Brownhill’s 45,000 per week salary would break Celtic’s current pay structure.
Many would argue though that this pay structure is going to have to be raised eventually, in order for us to compete with top clubs even in the smaller European leagues, where transfer fees in excess of 10 million are becoming almost routine among clubs of similar size financially to Celtic.
That being said, if the Celtic board are as obstinate as I suspect they are, and don’t want to budge from the current pay structure, there are still ways this could be “worked around”.
We could incorporate a substantial signing-on fee into a potential Josh Brownhill Celtic contract, since there would be no transfer fee payable. Or we could structure his contract with bonuses for goals, appearances, Champions League points, etc.
The bottom line is though: is a free agent from Burnley worthy of becoming one of the highest earners at Celtic?
Well, as mediocre as his club may be, Brownhill seems to be anything but. I think the fact that he managed 18 goals in 42 games from midfield last season is even more impressive when you consider he did it with Burnley, playing a huge role in getting them promoted back to the EPL in the process.
We all know that the EPL is an over-hyped, financially doped freakshow. The Championship is, however, in my opinion, another story. That is not an easy league to shine in. Many great players have gone there and disappeared into a quagmire of utter mediocrity. Brownhill has risen above that, so I believe he could also make that step up to the Champions League with Celtic.
There was talk of Celtic possibly moving for him in January, so clearly, he is a player the club are aware of, and whose talent they recognize. Right now, Celtic need goals from midfield and we need experience. Brownhill would give us both.
Also, we know that “free” is the board’s favorite price when it comes to transfers!
This is just rumor for now, but it could be one to watch, especially if the player isn’t immediately snapped up in the next week or two.
