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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STEBHOY on 5TH SEPTEMBER 2026 9:59 PM
still 2-1 VAR couldnt prove it – so they asked the ref – I did look slight offside from the ONLY angle they showed .
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If VAR can’t prove it, I don’t get why they’re asking the ref to make the call – the on field decision should stand.
We beat St Mirren, the ref, the VAR, the assistant ref
… all in one night.
Titles are won off the back of nights like this
Justice is done . We were up against some of the worst on and off field officiating you will ever see . Well done the champions
A FINE VICTORY
GIRFUY LURKING HUNS
STILL TOP OF THE FUCKING LEAGUE!!
Dont forget that offside decision against us in the SC final back in 1963
I haven’t…..
Great result but last 15 mins we lost control. Some baffling substitutions (Nygren???? Why did he stay on?). St Mirren showing why they are in second place for now. They will be tough to beat at home.
Cut out that goalie mistake and we cruise.
That mob lost 4.1 at ibrox and tonight kick everything above grass our defence is terrible it backs off when it should press they invite pressure.
Tounekti is a game changer, just never for Celtic.
Mheuka has pace, sharpness, skill and confidence. Kwalitee.
Well done bhoys. Great 3 points.
still top of the league
They won’t get that number of fouls awarded every week.
Great result. Saints played it the right way. We are too porous in midfield, I provide as much defensive cover as Nygren… Donovan excellent again, big Scales redeemed himself with a great goal and a really good second half performance out of position.
Ref was awful.
lets all slag off the players we dont like
Or
Enjoy the victory
Good win.
That Goggic had a great game for them. Tough and accurate tackling.
Nygren was poor. I thought Scales was excellent after his FU.
St Mirren are a decent side
These are nights that win you leagues.
Mheuka will score his share this season.
Goodnight all
Well done 👏👏
A freak goal made it a bit uncomfortable, but it was never in doubt when we equalised within 60 minutes.
Good night to the hopeful huns 😘
Well done, nervy at times,we move on to the next var guessing game.
Did ok but we do manufacture our own stress. Too easily pushed off the ball, all middies pushing on leaving defence exposed – defensive MF anyone?
Happy with the points but defensively we are a worry when up against better teams
In real time you would never ever call those offsides
Unless you had a built in agenda that is
Which was on show this evening
Get that SPL table updated Paul ASAP!
We really cannot rely on tounekti he is weak and in good positions greedy 2 goals disallowed by VAR which were subjective decisions
that combination is well a big watching , that ref and Dom Robertson on var , they are defo doing their darnest to try and stop us but as long as we score more than the opposition they will never stop us.
Don’t forget that free kick we got against St Mirren which Nakamura slotted home. It was a long time ago but they never got over it. :-)
If Gogic played for Celtic he’d be in Jail! Gets away with murder!
Great 3 points against 14 as well as VAR operators.
The cheating from the ref and VAR was on an industrial scale, every contact was a foul for St. Mirren and Duran was wrestled by that lump of wood Gogic, every time we were on the break.
Never ever have I seen a on field goal given, VAR couldn’t draw the lines??!!’ and the referee was sent to the monitor to decide???!!!!
No idea who the ref was but he’ll go far!
Well done CELTIC.
LS was pushed further up the park in the second half to keep him away from our box.
clunks@10.03pm
Tough call for some on here………
Tobago Street on 5th September 2026 10:05 pm
If Gogic played for Celtic he’d be in Jail! Gets away with murder!
————
And the rest…
VAR a bit squinty in Paisley sponsored by specsavers
dessybhoy on 5th September 2026 10:04 pm
We really cannot rely on tounekti he is weak and in good positions greedy 2 goals disallowed by VAR which were subjective decisions
——-
Subjectively trying hard to beat us
Chill with the tounetki shit
POTY competition sencelpoty@gmail.com
3 top picks for jobo, anyone can vote and it only takes a min.
Unbelivable atmosphere/crowd in Croke Park for Katie Taylor fight. 80,000 punters. What a spectacle
The last goal can’t draw the lines so the linesman didn’t give offside and the referee gave a goal. That’s it surely it’s a goal, por cierto
I have no crystal ball but with Yang away, Tounekti is likely starting the next 3-4 games unless we go with Duran, Hogh and Hassan.
it really was a fine result tonight
We were deep in the darkness of hundom
terrible referees
terrible tackles
var so tight they have to cheat
(no giving the attackers the advantage tonight)
A fine victory that will bond the squad
The non scots that just came in
Will know what we have to face
And know what it takes to overcome it
And more importantly
KNOW WE FECKING CAN
stop slagging off our players
Those you hate
Those that are quite right
It was a fantastic victory
Am very happy
GIRFUY lurking huns