How Celtic will look if January transfer speculation turns true

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DESPITE a catalogue of misses, including a wasted penalty, Celtic saw off Young Boys 1-0 last Wednesday to seal a play-off berth in the Champions League with a game to spare.

In addition to sterling European exploits, they’re seemingly on the verge of maintaining their long-term dominance in the Scottish Premiership.

Brendan Rodgers’ men are waltzing away with a fourth consecutive league title after steering 10 points clear of closest title competitors.

Meanwhile, the January transfer window is in full swing, with the Hoops linked with several potential winter signings as the deadline edges closer.

Celtic twice broke their transfer record last summer to secure £9.5million and £11m purchases of Adam Idah and Arne Engels.

While waiting for the latest transfer dealings, fans can safely monitor the club’s activities in the market by using digital privacy tools, such as VPN providers or secure browsers like Brave, to protect their online privacy.

January could still be busy for the perennial Scottish champions despite a lack of incoming deals in the first two weeks of the transfer window.

Departing front

Kyogo Furuhashi has joined French side Rennes for a reported £10million while Stephen Welsh and Odin Thiago Holm have joined KV Mechelen and Los Angeles FC respectively on loan.

However, Celtic could sever ties with several other players in the coming weeks.

Luis Palma has failed to live up to the billing since completing his £3.5m arrival from Greek side Aris Thessaloniki in July 2023 and could soon wave goodbye to Glasgow.

Though negotiations with Rayo Vallecano over the Honduras international’s switch to La Liga broke down briefly, talks between the clubs are back on track.

Palma would team up with the Spanish outfit on loan with an option to buy.

Next in line could be Alex Valle.

Celtic may terminate the 20-year-old’s loan agreement with Barcelona midway through the season after Como made an unforeseen bid to sign the prodigious left-back until the end of the season.

But it’s entirely up to the Hoops. Without Celtic’s approval, Valle cannot move to Serie A despite Cesc Fabregas’ request.

Who could come?

With a chance of locking down a place in the Champions League knockouts within reach, Celtic cannot afford to sit tight down the final stretch of the winter transfer window.

Filipe Jota has already returned after an absence of 18 months to sign a bumper five and a half year contract, a deal flagged up by the Sunday Mail. earlier this month.

Celtic would remain well-covered in the engine room now that Engels has started showing glimpses of his talent despite a missed penalty against Young Boys.

His form resurgence in recent matches has been a breath of fresh air, bolstering Rodgers’ rock-solid midfield unit.

Needless to say, Callum McGregor and Reo Hatate have been pivotal to Celtic’s trophy-laden era under Ange Postecoglou and Rodgers.

But, with Valle potentially leaving Scotland, the Hoops may need reinforcements at left-back.

Kieran Tierney is ever closer to returning to his old stomping ground as Celtic and Arsenal work around the clock to accelerate his comeback.

Tierney left Celtic Park in 2019, having won four successive league titles with the Hoops, to embark on what should’ve been a stellar Premier League career.

Unfortunately, recurring injury problems have plagued the left-back’s stint in North London and could soon result in a romantic reunion with Rodgers’ troops.

Dream signing

Aston Villa starlet Louie Barry has emerged as one of the most sought-after prospects on the island after a sparkling loan spell at Stockport County in the first half of the season.

The 21-year-old winger tallied 15 goals for the Hatters before the Villa Park side recalled him earlier in January amid growing interest from numerous Championship squads.

Despite being courted by Leeds United and Derby County, Barry could continue his career at Celtic, with the Hoops in advanced talks to lure him to Glasgow.

It would take up to £10m to convince Villa to sell, but given the youngster’s potential, it’d be a shrewd move.

How could Celtic line-up look after January?

Provided the Hoops fend off Bayer Leverkusen’s attempts to prise Cameron Carter-Vickers away from Celtic Park, Rodgers would have a formidable team in the second half of the season.

Potential starting XI (4-1-4-1): Schmeichel; Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Trusty, Tierney; McGregor; Jota, McCowan, Engels, Barry; Idah.

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