Mark Cooper makes Celtic case for success clear – the transfer profit rules he views as a necessity

Forward-thinking Celtic have reportedly added top scout Mark Cooper to their recruitment team - and made clear the way forward during an interview.

The Parkhead club are in the midst of a revamp of their transfer and scouting department with Mark Lawwell and Joe Dudgeon leaving ahead of a huge summer. The Daily Mail reported on Thursday that Cooper, currently based in South America where he is known for his ability to spot gems, is set to play a key part in that rebuild and has agreed to take on a senior scouting role.

It's yet to be announced formally but speaking on a Celtic fan podcast all the way back in 2019, he offered his thoughts on how to get the Hoops up to the same level as Benfica, who have sold the likes of Darwin Nunez and Joao Felix for eye-watering fees to Europe's best clubs. Celtic have pulled their weight on that front, with Kieran Tierney and Jota hitting the £25m barrier, but Cooper had his thoughts on how to take them up a level.

He told the Celtic Underground podcast: “Similar clubs around Europe, with a similar revenue – Celtic' revenue (in 2019) was £103 million, which is higher than Porto, Anderlecht, Ajax, and Sporting. Of all of these clubs, the ones that are successful are the ones that manage to have a transfer balance where they are making 100 per cent profit.

“The only way clubs like Ajax, Celtic, Anderlecht can do it, is by having about 100 per cent transfer profit and year on year, almost like compound interest, when you’re reinvesting in ever-increasing circles and selling again at a higher level, reinvesting at a higher level, selling at a higher level.

"Benfica who have been doing this have got more than £350 million in the last ten years worth of profit. Porto are just under that