Celtic will earn mega bucks from Champions League return but Hoops can also unlock hidden riches

There will be some din around Celtic Park tonight when the famous Champions League anthem booms out over the Parkhead PA system.

But if you listen closely, you might also be able to hear the ping of the tills ringing. Everyone knows this is the land of milk and money. TV rights, sponsorship deals, ticket sales, replica shirts flying off the shelves and pies being shoved in mouths. It’s the good old days back again for Celtic – and for their chums across the city. Directors will see pound signs flashing in front of their eyes and the kind of cash rolling in that will help keep the wheels turning for the near future.

But there’s another hidden kickback from the Champions League that’s tricky for any accountant to stick on the balance sheet. This is the kind of environment that can send players’ values sky high and send the recruitment cycle into overdrive.

Before Celtic fans get any knick knacks in a twist. This is not a column suggesting their side should be selling their top assets when they still haven’t fulfilled their potential. Celtic should aim to keep hold of this squad for as long as they can.

But the whole point of buying in talent is to move them on at some stage for big money.

Fans should enjoy these guys while they are around and if they do well then the club does well. Then they go in exchange for a tasty sum when the time comes. It’s the circle of life for Celtic and it has been for many years. They’ve been blooming good at it too with the likes of Virgil van Dijk, Moussa Dembele and Kieran Tierney leaving for top dough.

Rangers did a bit of it themselves in the summer with Nathan Patterson, Joe Aribo and Calvin Bassey. Celtic have spent a fair few bob under Ange Postecoglou but he already looks to have