Martin O’Neill has faith in Michael Nicholson delivering the squad makeover that Celtic require.
The Irishman was speaking after the 2-2 draw with AC Milan which featured a goal and an assist from Camilo Duran.
Unfortunately the Colombian was the only new signing available to O’Neill. Results don’t particularly matter but Celtic have completed their pre-season preparations with three draws and one defeat. It is fair to say that the squad is undercooked.
Every area of the team is in need of fresh faces, signings.
It is now nine weeks on since Celtic beat Dunfermline in the Scottish Cup Final. O’Neill finished the season with 14 trusted players. Since the match at Hampden Celtic have lost Kelechi Iheanacho, Marcelo Saracchi and Daizen Maeda.
SLOW PROGRESS IN THE CELTIC TRANSFER WINDOW
The SPFL season starts in nine days. The Champions League Play off is 24 days away.
So far O’Neill has Duran. Kasper Hogh is a medical away.
Duran and Hogh weren’t at the World Cup Finals. They could have been Celtic players in June, playing together in four pre-season friendlies
2 minutes 20 seconds
QUESTION: Have you been anxious at all about the delay in the signings? You sat here last week and said you thought something would be done?
I just said that we were making good progress and I think we are. No, I’m genuinely not. I can remember the situation 25 years ago. So it’s not new to me in that sense. No, I’m not worried. I’ve got good faith in the people being able to get the players in.
The signings of Hogh and Duran show what can be done at Celtic.
Two strikers with five goals each in the Champions League last season can be enticed to Celtic.
Pay the rate and clubs, players and agents get business done. Everyone is happy, everyone a winner.
A Columbian in Azerbaijan and a Dane playing in the Arctic Circle are happy to come to Glasgow. They might not know the nitty gritty but there are worst places to play football.
Do your stuff for Celtic and follow Maeda, Nicolas Kuhn and Matt O’Riley elsewhere.
Arne Engels and Alistair Johnston could both be getting added to that list. More departures wouldn’t be a surprise. Think Ben Nygren, Auston Trusty, possibly Callum McGregor.
WHEN NICHOLSON LOST CONTROL OF THE MANAGED DECLINE
Since January 2025 Nicholson has been weakening the Celtic squad.
As the fans celebrated a win over YB Berne and a Round of 16 Play Off in the Champions League the Celtic CEO was thinking of something else.
Selling Kyogo Furuhashi to Rennes was the answer to the Champions League ambitions of Brendan Rodgers. He could have Shin Yamada as a replacement or nothing.
And there’s more.
Given a taste for undermining a manager Nicholson sold Kuhn to Como at the start of July. For a giggle he splashed out £10m on two dud left-wingers after losing out to Kairat Almaty on a Champions League return.
And on and on it goes.
WHERE DO CELTIC NEED TO STRENGTHEN?
To get the best out of Hogh and Duran they need supply. Either from the wings where Celtic have two bit part players in James Forrest and Yang Hyun-jun. The drop off from peak Ange in season 22/23 is stark.
O’Neill finished last season with a midfield of McGregor, Engels and Nygren.
At least one will be sold by Nicholson, possibly two, no one should rule out all three leaving during this window.
O’Neill has already virtually discarded Paulo Bernardo and Reo Hatate.
Which leaves him with Luke McCowan and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
O’Neill’s faith in Nicholson could well be tested. He has to say no to some want-away midfielders or find replacements of similar quantity.
A left-back to operate with Kieran Tierney is required.
If Johnston is sold it will be a stretch to expect Tony Ralston or Colby Donovan to get close to the levels of the Canadian.
Behind them an injury to Vil Sinisalo would project Ross Doohan into first choice goalkeeper. A 28-year-old with 17 top flight appearances backed up by games at Tranmere, Forest Green Rovers and Ayr United.
Having wasted two months since the 25/26 season ended Nicholson faces a massive workload.
After watching his underwhelming activity over almost five years not many Celtic fans share O’Neill’s confidence in the ‘leading sports lawyer’.
Select Celtic365 as a “Preferred Source” on Google News for prompts to the independent news and opinions that you respect.
RELATED READING
CLICK HERE for why Michael Nicholson must be sacked.
CLICK HERE for Martin O’Neill outs the Albufeira Four
;
