Pie in the sky- Sutton reveals his £50m Celtic transfer dream

Chris Sutton believes that Celtic will have to spend around £50m to get back towards full strength.

The net effect of three successive transfer windows spent weakening the squad is visible in the side that finished the season.

Celtic did win the SPFL and Scottish Cup but that says more about the quality of opponents in Scotland than the strength of the hoops.

Europe is the only worthwhile benchmark to look at how a Scottish club is faring.

Celtic failed spectacularly. They lost out in a Champions League Play Off to Kairat Almaty who went on to pick up one point from eight matches.

Celtic finished 21st out of 36 teams in the Europa League. Their Last 16 Play Off tie was over after a 4-0 defeat in the first leg at home.

The squad was badly short on what is required to be competitive in Europe. Even in UEFA’s secondary competition.

The decline started in January 2025. As fans celebrated a 1-0 win over YB Berne Michael Nicholson was signing off the sale of Kyogo Furuhashi. The Celtic CEO had no intention of replacing the forward that started the critical Champions League victory.

CELTIC- THE BALANCE SHEET DOMINATES THE TEAM SHEET

With the applause of his boardroom colleagues ringing loud Nicholson followed that up by selling Nicolas Kuhn and Adam Idah. Signing Shin Yamada wasn’t even a half hearted attempt at a replacement.

Yamada came off the bench away to Kairat in the ill fated second leg. He was ditched from the Europa League squad.

Which brings Celtic to the current impasse. Self imposed.

Dermot Desmond’s statement on Brendan Rodgers summed up the attitude of the only decision maker at Celtic.

They’ve got the Champions League qualifier which is really important and, however exciting it was for Celtic fans to end up getting over the line last season, you can’t get away from the fact that Celtic struggled at times throughout the season. So, Martin will be looking to, I’m sure, bring players in.

It’ll be interesting to see who goes out from Celtic. It looks like Reo Hatate will go, possibly Daizen Maeda, Arne Engels but they’re big players for the team. So, who are Celtic going to replace those type of players with? I think that Celtic are possibly going to have to spend up to or more than £50m really because the squad does need a rebuild.

On all known form Celtic will spend some of the money raised from the sale of players. The £70-90m in the bank won’t be touched.

No significant fee will be spent until players are sold. Without the distraction of the World Cup Arne Engels is likely to be the first player sold. By the time of the Champions League Play Off the side that won the double will be unrecognisable. Daizen Maeda will certainly be sold. The agents of Alistair Johnston and Ben Nygren will know the transfer fee that will see Celtic do business.

THE SELF SABOTAGE TRANSFERS OF SEASON 25/26

Anyone doubting that ‘strategy’ only has to think back to last summer.

Nygren came in for £2m on July 1, on July 11 Kuhn was sold to Como for £17m

And that was about it for the Champions League Play Off. Different dates passed by, Brendan Rodgers constantly messaged about how hard everyone was working.

In a late frenzy after missing out on the Champions League £10m was rushed out the door on Michel-Ange Balikwisha and Sebastian Tounekti. Two left wingers with no replacement for Kuhn! And then to fully handicap Rodgers Idah was sold to Swansea for £7m.

Free agent Kelechi Iheanacho was signed after the transfer window closed. Fans reassured themselves that January would be busy. All of the gaping holes addressed. With £77m in the bank on June 30, boosted by selling Kuhn and Idah there was no fiscal reason not to.

In January five loan players came in. None were retained. Joel Mvuka and Junior Adamu bombed spectacularly. Free agent Alex Oxlade Chamberlain was signed, Iheanacho was signed post window.

O’Neill assisted by Shaun Maloney and Mark Fotheringham saved the day. Delivered a double. Tonight O’Neill is on his own with the first day of pre-season training a week away.