MARTIN O’NEILL made six signings in a whirlwind couple of days to register Celtic’s new recruits before last night’s 11pm UEFA deadline.
Now the Hoops gaffer faces this evening’s 5 o’clock cut-off for domestic players before the window opens again in January.
O’Neill admitted he would plunge into the market again to strengthen a squad that has seen TEN new Bhoys since the initial £6million capture of Camilo Duran from Qarabag on July 10.
Five have been on permanent deals with Kasper Hogh (Bodo/Glimt), Mika Baur (SC Paderborn), Haissem Hassan (Real Oviedo) and Joel van den Berg (Feyenoord) joining the Colombian who opened the scoring in the 3-0 romp against Aberdeen at Parkhead last night.
HAPPY DAZE…Camilo Duran celebrates another spectacular strike as he puts Celtic ahead in the 3-0 triumph over Aberdeen at Parkhead last night.
Midfielder Oliver Sorensen joined on a season-long loan from Parma on Tuesday and was quickly followed over the next 24 hours by keeper Sam Johnstone (Wolves), full-backs Jordan Lotomba (Feyenoord) and Landon Emanaldo (Chelsea) and striker Shim Mheuka, the left-back’s Stamford Bridge team-mate.
O’Neill still sees room for improvement in his player pool and admitted: “Even if they miss the European deadline, if there is a possibility of getting someone else in, I would definitely want to do that if we can.”
With limited space for overseas players in their Europa League squad, the champions could make further signings before the window closes tonight.
The Hoops freed up further space in their list with the permanent departures of Johnny Kenny (Preston) and Reo Hatate (Burnley) for a total of something in the region of £9.5million.
Analyzing the transfer business so far, O’Neill said: “I’m very pleased that they’re in the door. I think that they’ll definitely add something to us.
“Honestly, I am pleased that we have done what we have because there’s quite a few who have left the football club.
“Reo’s gone and Johnny Kenny has gone, I wish them all the best and so we need people in.”
DEBUT BHOY…on-loan Chelsea striker Shim Mheuka took his bow as a second-half substitute.
Reflecting on the team’s fourth successive league triumph with Benjamin Nygren and Yang Hun-jun joining Duran on the scoresheet, the veteran team chief, speaking to CelticPlayer, continued: “I thought, overall, we played very well.
“We defended moments when we had to and there was a big moment in the game when they headed against the bar just before half-time and we went down the field and scored.
“That makes it a good differential at that stage, but, overall, we played very well.”
O’Neill commented: “Camilo’s a class player, there’s no question about it, and he’s had some impact since he’s arrived here at the club.
“But, overall, I think that we’re capable of scoring. Remember, Kasper’s not in the side at this minute through injury.
“And it’s nice to see us create chances, as well. We could have maybe scored a couple of more goals, but we defended the big moments pretty well and I thought that that was encouraging.”
THREE AND KNEESY…Yang Hyun-jun celebrates putting Celtic 3-0 ahead against Aberdeen.
The Irishman also acknowledged that Yang’s impeding absence will be felt with the winger due to be involved in the Asian Games with South Korea.
He added: “We’re going to miss him because he will be away for a little while. He’s been terrific since I stepped into the football club.
“I think he probably needed just a big boost of confidence and that’s what he gets from us.”
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