Go Ahead Eagles stand firm as first offer falls short
Go Ahead Eagles have turned down an opening bid from Celtic for 21-year-old attacking prospect Breum, telling the Scottish club they will only sell on their terms. The Dutch side stressed they are open to doing business, but not at a discount. One club representative put it bluntly: they’re not a difficult club to deal with, yet the deal has to fit financially—or it doesn’t happen.
This is a classic early-window standoff, only it’s happening late in the summer. The message from Deventer is consistent: they like to negotiate, they’ll listen, but they won’t move off a valuation they consider fair for a key young asset. That stance hardened after a first proposal came in below what they consider market value for an Eredivisie regular with upside.
Timing matters here. With the final days of the window approaching, the pressure runs both ways. Go Ahead Eagles risk losing time to find a replacement if they sell now, so they want a fee that reflects not just the player’s ability but also the cost of late-window disruption. On the other side, Celtic want a deal wrapped up quickly, but they’ll also be running a tight budget across several squad needs.
Despite the rejection, the lines of communication are very much open. The player’s agent called Go Ahead Eagles on Monday morning to express hope that a transfer can still be agreed. The club didn’t shut the door. They simply repeated the same condition: pay the right price—or structure the deal in a way that gets us there—and we’ll talk.
When Dutch clubs say “right price,” it rarely means only the headline fee. Eredivisie sales often hinge on add-ons tied to appearances, team performance in Europe, and resale clauses. These tools let a buying club keep the initial cash outlay manageable, while allowing the seller to capture upside if the player kicks on. Expect those levers to come up if negotiations move forward—especially a sell-on percentage. Go Ahead Eagles have every reason to protect future value on a 21-year-old who could jump again in a couple of years.
There’s also the human side. Breum is understood to be keen on the move. That matters, and everyone knows it. But Go Ahead Eagles are drawing a line: a player’s ambition is respected, not weaponized. They’re signaling to the dressing room and the fanbase that the club won’t be browbeaten by an external timeline or a first low bid. This is how smaller Eredivisie clubs maintain competitive footing—turn talent into revenue, yes, but do it on smart terms.
If you’re wondering what “fair valuation” looks like, there isn’t a single number. It’s a mix of the guaranteed fee, the add-on ladder, the payment schedule, and the resale share. A lower upfront figure can still work if the extras are real and achievable. That’s the zone where deals often get done in the last week: creative structures that bridge the gap without everyone needing to blink at once.
Why Celtic want Breum—and what could unlock the deal
So why push for Breum now? Celtic have been looking to freshen their attack with a young, mobile forward who can add direct running and goals while still developing under a structured coaching setup. The profile fits their recruitment pattern: early-20s, strong league experience, and room for resale value. Adding another reliable attacker helps cover rotation, injuries, and the heavy domestic-and-European workload that defines their season.
The Scottish champions also tend to work with a clear wage and fee framework. They’ll stretch for the right player, but they prefer disciplined deals where upside is built in rather than blown upfront. That’s not stubbornness; it’s strategy. The model has worked in recent years when they’ve flipped promising signings at strong margins. Breum sits neatly in that lane if the numbers make sense.
From a squad dynamics angle, a 21-year-old attacker gives the manager a flexible tool. He can start, impact games off the bench, and grow into a larger role across the season. This is not about headline signings for the sake of it. It’s about adding pace, pressing energy, and end product to a team that faces low blocks most weekends and faster transitions in Europe.
What happens next? Three tracks usually run in parallel at this stage.
- An improved bid that nudges the guaranteed fee and strengthens the add-ons, especially those tied to realistic appearance and team benchmarks.
- Fine-tuning the structure: smaller upfront, better triggers, and a meaningful sell-on clause to satisfy Go Ahead Eagles that the long-term upside is protected.
- Contingency planning: both clubs will quietly keep alternate options warm. Celtic can’t be left short in attack; Go Ahead Eagles can’t be left without cover if they sell late.
There’s also the practical layer—medical, personal terms, and work permit. For a regular in the Eredivisie, the permit process is usually manageable under the UK’s points-based system, though it still requires the standard paperwork. None of that is the blocker here; the fee and structure are.
From the Dutch side, refusing the first bid isn’t grandstanding. Eredivisie clubs rely on transfer income to balance the books and compete, and they’ve grown more confident about extracting value the past few seasons. Selling too low sets a precedent that makes the next negotiation harder. By standing firm early, they’re trying to establish the price range and the deal shape before the clock forces rash decisions.
Fans on both sides will feel the tension. Celtic supporters want another attacking spark as soon as possible. Go Ahead Eagles fans don’t want to see a bright young performer leave days before the deadline. Both realities can be true. That’s why the structure of any agreement—sell-on, bonuses, and a sensible payment plan—becomes the compromise that lets everyone save face.
There’s also the dressing-room calculation. If a player wants the move, keeping him against his will can backfire. But selling under value also sends a message. The sweet spot is a price that validates the club’s stance and a move that rewards the player’s progress. Clubs that do this well tend to show up in the same stories, in the same windows, year after year—because counterparts trust them to be tough but fair.
Could this slip away? Sure. If Celtic stick to their opening number and Go Ahead Eagles don’t budge, it stalls. But all the ingredients for a compromise are already on the table: a motivated buyer, a willing seller at the right price, and a player who wants the move. That’s why the agent’s call matters. It keeps momentum alive and nudges both sides to find common ground.
Don’t overlook the calendar. Late August often forces clarity. Clubs sharpen bids, reshape add-ons, and make quick calls on backups. If Celtic return with a better offer and a cleaner structure, this can move quickly—medical, paperwork, and done. If not, expect a flurry of late noise and a pivot to the next target.
One last piece to watch: protections. Go Ahead Eagles will likely push for a sell-on clause with teeth. Celtic will try to keep add-ons tied to performance milestones they expect to hit. Meeting in the middle might mean a smaller guaranteed fee than the Dutch club first wanted, but with add-ons that can get them there—and beyond—if Breum delivers in Glasgow.
For now, the message is simple. Bid one was not enough. The door isn’t closed. The next offer, and how it’s built, will tell us everything about whether this transfer gets over the line before the window shuts.
