With yet another successful season behind them, the Bhoys are ready for a new European adventure. The team is poised to go back to the Champions League after missing out last year. Even though Celtic played admirably in the Scottish Premier League, improvements must be made. If the Scottish champs want to compete in the CL, not the Europa League, there are a few key areas that need reinforcement.
The odds for the CL are already out at bookies and Celtic is nowhere near the top. As a matter of fact, the reigning Scottish champs have been pushed down to the bottom of the list with odds in the area of 500/1. It’s obvious that Celtic won’t win the Champions League at those odds, but if you feel lucky, you should place a small bet on the Bhoys. Even better, visit https://www.freebets.com/ to get the best UK deals on free bets and bonuses. Claim a bonus or free bet from a reputable bookie and use it on Celtic’s CL odds – you might not win anything, but if the unimaginable happens, you’ll be rich. After all, stranger things have happened.
Let’s see where Celtic needs to improve the most:
ATTACK
It’s fair to say that Celtic’s attack has got things covered. With Odsonne Edouard and Leigh Griffiths up front and James Forrest and Scott Sinclair on the wings, there’s a lot of firepower. However, a few injuries are all it takes to throw the front line out of balance. Plus, the overall reliance on Edouard, a 21-year old, will eventually become a problem.
In many cases, teams who play defensively can cut off the front line, and the Bhoys have no backup to step up when needed. Moussa Dembele was a real treasure, but after his departure, the club didn’t find a suitable replacement.
Maybe now’s the time to move for Dwight Gayle. A prolific striker in the Championship, Gayle may be on the move and will definitely bolster Celtic’s attack. Newcastle’s striker has been in Celtic’s sights for a while now, and it may be time to finally pull the trigger on the deal.
GOALKEEPER
For years, Celtic has been unable to make any kind of impact in Europe. The last successful outing came in season 12/13 when the Bhoys even managed to beat the mighty Barcelona, in no small part thanks to Fraser Forster. The brilliant goalie has since left for Southampton and Celtic was never the same. Craig Gordon is a good goalie, but he’s ageing, and Scott Bain is a solid, yet not a top-level choice.
It’s time to sign a quality goalkeeper that can take Celtic to the next level in Europe, although finding a good goalie is a hell of a job.
OTHER AREAS
Although Celtic has plenty of options in defence and midfield, a few back-up players aren’t a bad idea. If Kieran Tierney leaves, and the bidding war for the 22-year old has seemingly just started, the left-back position needs to be filled. Any other player that leaves needs to be replaced as well. Tom Rogic is a transfer target for Zenit St Petersburg and will most likely leave considering his limited playing time.
Boli Mbombo is a solid replacement in case Tierney leaves. At the same time, many experts believe that manager Neil Lennon should simply give Ryan Christie a bigger chance and spend the possible £9million from the Rogic deal elsewhere. That’s not a bad option, either.
