Celtic’s hard-fought win over St Mirren at Parkhead was meant to be a night to build momentum in the title race, with fans leaving the stadium feeling just a little bit closer to silverware.
But football rarely allows supporters to enjoy the moment for long.
Just an hour after the final whistle, a major transfer development dropped that instantly shifted attention away from Celtic’s victory and towards a potential summer setback in the market.
Tottenham Hotspur, despite sitting in a relegation battle in the Premier League, are now reportedly in pole position to land one of Celtic’s long-term admired targets, Andy Robertson, after reaching what has been described as a “verbal agreement”.
Blow for Celtic as Tottenham move ahead in Robertson race:
The Scotland captain has been heavily linked with a return to Scottish football, with Celtic among the clubs monitoring his situation as he prepares to leave Liverpool after nine successful years at Anfield.
For Celtic supporters, the idea of Robertson ever wearing the green and white had always felt like a dream scenario, especially given his well known connection to the club.
But that hope now appears to be fading fast.
Announcing his decision to leave Liverpool after nine years full of success, Robertson said: “It’s never easy leaving a club like Liverpool, it has been a huge part of mine and my family’s life for the last nine years. But for me, players move on, other people move on – the thing that stays the same is the club and obviously the fans.
“I’ve had an amazing nine years here. Look, I think it has been well-documented, especially over the last year or so, I’ve had opportunities to leave and I’ve not taken them because of how difficult it is to leave this club. And I wouldn’t change that for the world.”
That statement alone confirmed what many feared, Robertson is heading into a decisive summer where interest from multiple clubs will be seriously considered, and Celtic are no longer at the front of the queue.
Tottenham, according to Fabrizio Romano, have now moved quickest.
Romano shares update on Tottenham’s Robertson “agreement”
As reported by Romano, Tottenham have reached a “verbal agreement” to sign Robertson, with the deal only expected to progress if the North London club avoid relegation from the Premier League this season.
That condition is still hanging in the air, with Tottenham currently fighting to secure their top flight status, but the key point is clear, they are already ahead in the race.
For Celtic, this represents a painful shift in the landscape. A player once seen as a romantic homecoming story now looks far more likely to continue at the highest level in England or move abroad rather than return to Glasgow.
Even at 32, Robertson’s quality, leadership and experience make him a highly attractive option for any club rebuilding or stabilising at the top level.
What happens next will depend on Tottenham’s survival battle and Robertson’s own final decision on where his next chapter begins. But after what felt like a positive night at Parkhead, this development has quickly turned into an unwelcome reminder of how fast the transfer market can change direction.