Charlie Methven believes Celtic should be aiming to sell their leading young players for £40million to £50million – and says European performances are key to reaching that level.

The former Sunderland and Charlton executive has challenged the scale of Celtic’s player-trading ambitions.

His argument is that developing players capable of commanding those fees requires a team that gives them the platform to prove themselves against stronger opposition.

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Speaking during his discussion with A Celtic State of Mind and The Celtic Exchange, Methven said:

“If a player is good enough to play for Celtic and is young enough to be sold, he needs to be going for 40 to 50.”

“And to do that, he needs to be demonstrating it on the European stage.”

That would represent a significant step beyond Celtic’s previous biggest deals.

Matt O’Riley’s move to Brighton in August 2024 set a Scottish transfer record, with a package worth up to £30million. His departure followed the £25million sales of Kieran Tierney and Jota.

Methven’s £40m–£50m figure is the level he believes Celtic should aspire to reach, rather than a valuation of anyone currently in Martin O’Neill’s squad.

And the European element of his argument needs to be heard by those in charge.

Celtic cannot simply expect bigger fees because transfer prices elsewhere have increased. Players need opportunities to show that their quality carries beyond domestic football.

That means building a side capable of competing in Europe, where individual performances can attract attention from clubs with considerably greater spending power.

Thursday’s victory over Beşiktaş finally got Celtic off the mark after three opening Europa League defeats. It was a welcome result, but sustained progress requires more than an occasional good night in a second-tier competition.

There is a football argument here as well as a financial one. Better recruitment and a stronger team give Celtic a greater chance of progressing, while giving their best players a better stage.

If Celtic want the rewards Methven is talking about, they need to build a team that can earn them.