The transfer window closed yesterday with Celtic bringing in 10 players in total, six purchased and four season-long loan signings. Positions filled were:
A Goalkeeper
Left and right backs
Three central midfielders
One winger
Three strikers, one of whom has already played on the wing
Only central defence was not added to. Maik Nawrocki, who was out on loan last term, got a great move to Lens, although he suffered an ACL injury this week. This leaves us with four central defenders, which sounds light, although to be fair, five sounds too many to keep happy (ask Maik).
We have a glut of players who will compete for the No. 8 role: Mika Baur, Oliver Sorensen, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Luke McCowan, although some can fill other roles, including the No. 6. This position, occupied by Callum McGregor since the departure of Scott Brown five years ago, is the strategic gap I am sure the club are keen to fill.
For several seasons, Callum played more football than anyone else in the world game. He is almost always fit and a succession of managers have wanted him on the field whenever possible. Celtic need to bridge two competing demands: Callum to control as much of our game as possible, while giving enough time to bed-in a successor. That job has to start soon.
I could not be happier with the acquisition of Camilo Duran (24) and Kasper Hogh (25). Both in their prime with established Champions League credentials. It’s still early days, but how we managed to acquire Camilo for less than £5m is incredible. I get Kyogo-type vibes from him. Kasper gives us a dimension to our play that’s been missing for some time. What Martin does tactically when everyone is fit, will be interesting.
When early in the summer Martin talked about wanting Kelechi Iheanacho back at the club I was in despair. Kelechi’s cameos were crucial for us last season, but he offered no development and no up-surprises; the opposite of a coherent strategy. The embarrassment of then failing to land a player we had just allowed an option to expire on, gave a shambolic impression. Fortunately, that was not the whole picture.
I watched Argentina-Egypt at the World Cup with disappointment as I was sure Haissem Hassan’s outstanding display would take him beyond our reach. On the game’s highest stage and against the finalists, he stole the show. He is the most direct winger we have had in years (which will not always work for him). Fans of all colours are frustrated when wingers recycle the ball and the attacking team reverts to a horseshoe of doom. You will not seem much of that from Haissem, he will commit defenders more than anyone in Scottish football; watch them double-up on him.
Tactically it might not fit, but a line-up with Hassan on one wing, Jota on the other, with Hogh in front and Duran just off him would be interesting.
The central mid position looks to be where we have been most strategic. Sorensen (24) is the oldest and most experienced recruit. Baur is 22 and still has scope to develop. Joel van den Berg’s exclusion from the European squad indicates his limited game-time thus far. He is 19, away from home for the first time and will learn his trade in the Scottish Premiership.
Kieran Tierney needs a deputy and we need Liam Scales to be playing in central defence, so the addition of loanee Landon Emenalo (18) is certainly required. He’s young and like Joel, needs to be deployed carefully. One of Jordan Lotomba’s main assets is that he can play left back, as well as his more regular right back role. Liam will hopefully be fourth choice left back now and will remain in the middle.
Sam Johnstone (33) collected a runners-up medal with England at the Euros two years ago. After a traumatic season with Wolves, when they were cannon fodder in the EPL, Celtic offer the goalkeeper a chance to reset. It’s not clear if he will replace Viljami Sinisalo, I suspect Martin has an open mind of the subject right now.
Out went our beloved Daizen Maeda and Reo Hatate, together, key architects of Celtic’s current five-in-a-row run. They leave having given us lifetime memories and our eternal thanks. Arne Engels brought in £22m. This surprised many, but he is still only 22 and like Mika, has plenty of road ahead. We got £3m for Johnny Kenny (23). I predict he will move gain for double this price. Honourable mention too for Stephen Welsh, especially for that last minute equaliser for 10-man Motherwell on a Wednesday night in February.
A couple of points on transfer business. Sales brought in a reported £46m, while we spent £30m (plus unreported loan fees). These figures do not and should not equate. Total spend over a business cycle should equate to total earnings. A healthy model for clubs like Celtic is to earn from transfers to spend on wages. You do not need to look too far away to learn what happens when clubs our size are net spenders.
Also, we lost the Champions League qualifier, which was a failure on the club. It was not because “we did not sign players before then”, as I heard repeatedly on the radio on my way to the game on Wednesday. Signing players before these games, then signing players after them, is good.
Did we do enough to win the title again? We’ll see. As we discussed above, it is early days, but if feels like the best window we have had since Ange was doing his thing. It is coherent and aligned to a strategy I recognise.
Newco ran us close last season and, like a half-arsed parent over-compensating for a lack of love by buying the kids expensive gadgets, out-spent us. I am not convinced by their work, but money has been deployed and we must recognise the threat.
Hearts are a latent worry. They upgraded their coach and will continue to challenge. Their win at Hibs last night is a portent of how well-prepared they are. More immediately, St Mirren also have a better manager than they had a year ago and host a top-of-the-table clash against Celtic tomorrow. It already feels like a significant game.
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Lino invents a Saints free kick
Confidence? Yang is so direct. Pace, composure, goal.
Just drop, you’ll get the foul.
Jesus that is horrific refereeing
Never a free !!
Never a free kick for them. Ball cleared.
brilliant brilliant from Duran – he’s our toughest player. his tenacity won the ball back , he played in yang who burst a gut to drive forward , takes the ball and rolls it under the keeper. great forward play . Yang has toughened up and grown into the Celtic jersey. Still work to do as I dont trust this tram to defend a lead – maybe Sorensen can help when he comes on shortly
Yang down
Jamesie and Sørensen on
Just 1 more Cellic!
And Tounekti
a boot from the keeper there
FFS – Tounekti
Yang, Hassan, Baur off
brave from Yang – took a sare yin
Duran is special
His touches are goals
or leads to goals
Fair play to keeper – could have made more of that
Son of Soren coming on
Alang wi wee Jamesie (5’9″)
Hope Tounekti has been watching Yang
Duran won the ball for the goal too. Great stuff
brilliant display from Bauer – he is very intelligent , tidy and works hard. Not happy Tounekti is coming on – he is powder puff – time he grew into the jersey – need to be much more aggressive and direct. He has it in him
Sinisalo good save
We need to drop Sinasalo. He’s dropping everything that comes at him back into dangerous areas.
Just tuned in wife’s sister and partner called.
Come on the CELTIC!!!!
A third goal would be handy
Man down with Tounekti on. Prove me wrong Seb
moisey13
And even fairer play to their No. 13 who handled the situation well including a word with both the goalie and the no.8
see that!!! that was woeful from tounekti – clean through on the left hand side , has plenty of time to look up and make something happen , his pass was so weak . not good enough
Tounetki: hoping Maloney works on his wing play and he learns a few tricks from Forrest
Toun haters have not gone away ye know……
scalesy just laugh at the saints fans there??
LS takes too long. Saints throw
Celtic Mac on 5th September 2026 9:38 pm
Toun haters have not gone away ye know……
—-
Like hating your big toe
More importantly saints turning this game into a kicking match
They are desperate, just the usual scottish standard of refereeing
Sørensen dithers in the box. Celtic escape
Will you quit fkn about at the back
Rumours Yang out for 4 months.
Why oh why invite pressure in our own 18 box?