ANGE POSTECOGLOU admits Celtic face a “tricky” obstacle course in the summer transfer market.
The Hoops manager has swatted aside speculation concerning his own future, but clearly has his eye on how things may develop in his wheeling and dealing on the sales front in the forthcoming months.
Postecoglou has been highly active in his four previous transfer windows and this could be yet another busy period with recruits targeted as well as possible exits of some of his squad.
JOY BHOY…Alistair Johnston celebrates his first Celtic honour only a month after his January arrival as he whoops it up with his team-mates after the 2-1 League Cup Final triumph.
January saw the departures of Josip Juranovic and Giorgos Giakoumakis with the pair being immediately replaced by Alistair Johnston and Oh Hyeon-gyu as the merry-go-round took another spin.
In the aftermath of his second successive title triumph, Postecoglou, speaking to the Scottish Sun, said: “We’re not close to confirming anyone, but our work started a while back. It’s an ongoing thing.
“I think this transfer market potentially could be a tricky one for us. It’s the first one where potentially they could come for some of our key players.
“We’ve got to be ready for that. We’ve got to insure ourselves against those kinds of things happening. We’ve identified players we think can make us a better side, but also the insurance is there if we lose a couple, that we’re still in good shape.
TITLE TALK…Ange Postecoglou makes his speech on Flag Day at Parkhead.
“Over the course of events those things will get announced. The work is always ongoing.”
In the meantime, Postecoglou is concentrating on Saturday evening’s Scottish Cup Final against Inverness Caley Thistle at Hampden.
The Hoops are on the brink of a glorious treble – only the eighth in the club’s proud history – and the 57-year-old Greek-Australian gaffer is determined to make sure there are no banana skins at the national stadium at the final hurdle.