From Henrik Larsson and Chris Sutton to Moussa Dembele and Odsonne Edouard, Celtic and their supporters have always had a deep admiration for players who can consistently find the back of the net. A reliable goal-scorer has long been cherished at the club, quickly becoming a fan favorite for his contributions on the pitch.
Celtic have brought in many star strikers over the years, and now another high-profile forward has revealed he was close to joining the Bhoys. Speaking on the *Under the Cosh* podcast, Troy Deeney admitted that he nearly signed with Celtic before ultimately choosing Birmingham City.
Deeney explained that he accepted a reduced salary at Birmingham compared to the £40,000-a-week Celtic had offered him, adding that he turned down the Scottish club’s generous offer. This insight has sparked fresh discussions among fans about what Deeney might have brought to Celtic’s lineup had the deal gone through.Troy Deeney has revealed that he came close to joining Celtic in 2021 after his departure from Watford. The striker shared that he was thrilled by the prospect of playing for the Scottish giants, but ultimately chose to stay in England due to family considerations, feeling that a long-distance move was not right at that stage in his career.Deeney’s near-transfer has sparked discussions among Celtic fans, who have taken to social media to imagine what he might have brought to the team. The striker went on to sign with Birmingham City, where he has since continued his career.Troy Deeney recently opened up about his decision to decline a lucrative offer from Celtic back in 2021, despite the appeal of playing under then-manager Ange Postecoglou. The striker, reflecting on the move he nearly made, shared that he was also approached by Middlesbrough under Neil Warnock and that both teams had offered him close to £40,000 a week.
However, Deeney ultimately chose Birmingham City, where he accepted a considerably lower salary of £12,000 per week. He explained that the decision was motivated by his desire to stay close to his family. “I had an offer to go to Middlesbrough with Neil Warnock, and then Celtic came in for me as well. And I was like, that’s mint, but it’s miles away,” he recalled.
At 34, Deeney felt a strong pull to stay near his children, especially as his oldest son was entering an important stage in his life. “He’s at that point where he needs me… The girls need me. Like, no, I’m not moving,” Deeney added. Although the move to Celtic was tempting, Deeney ultimately chose family over football, opting to stay close to home with Birmingham City.Though Troy Deeney never ended up signing for Celtic, the forward recently shared insights on how his playing style might have meshed with former Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou. While Deeney isn’t the typical striker that Postecoglou tends to favor—one who presses intensely and makes constant runs behind the defense—the prospect of their working together would have been an intriguing blend of styles.
Deeney has openly voiced his respect for Postecoglou, even defending the manager during recent discussions around Tottenham Hotspur’s defensive struggles under the Australian coach. “I actually feel sorry for the fella, you know,” Deeney said, praising Tottenham’s attacking style but noting that defensive lapses are often unfairly pinned on Postecoglou. “You look at how Spurs play—they play some good stuff, attack well, and score plenty of goals. But when it comes to defending, people blame the manager. How can you run a session that stops someone from mis-kicking a ball?”
He added, “I’d challenge people to look at the goals they concede. They’re not structural issues. It’s man-to-man, me vs. you—that’s more mentality.”
Though they never shared a sideline, Deeney’s comments suggest he would’ve respected Postecoglou’s approach, and fans can only imagine what their collaboration might have brought to Celtic’s lineup.
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