Celtic Transfers 2024

Which position is our top priority?

We'll potentially have a few players away for the AFC Asian Cup from 12th January until 10th February, which will deplete our squad and there's always the chance of other players being injured then too. Think this could potentially see us look for some short term loan cover.

I can see us being active in this window because from the line ups being chosen and the subs being made, some of the new signings aren't yet at the level we require them to be.

 

LB, GK, CF, in that order. I do not expect any to be resolved with big name signings. We may see Scales being shifted to LB to save money. Because that is how our board would like it.

 

We need a back up striker. If Kyogo gets injured, we're in big trouble. That would also let us get Oh a loan as he badly needs game time.

 

We won't strengthen the areas needed in January. At best we might see a few loan deals and a punt or two. The obvious areas are the two not dealt with in the summer- goalkeeper and left back. We have enough wingers once Abada is back from injury I think. He is a big miss.

I think we definitely need a striker unless Brendan decides to use Maeda up top to facilitate Palma and Abada on the wings in a rotational basis.

Hart/New Gk

Johnston
CCV
Scales(an absolute revelation)
Taylor/New LB

McGregor
Hatate
O'Riley

Palma
Kyogo
Abada

No doubt in my mind with an upgraded goalkeeper and left back we become a different animal altogether but I don't expect to see much change until next summer.

 

Left back
Energetic, pacey central midfielder
Striker
Winger

 

Every window we go into, I'm always feeling like we don't need wholesale changes in or out.

I still don't feel deep down like we need huge changes.

We just need to see a new, young-ish GK come in... a LB that undoubtedly can be seen immediately as a replacement on Taylor.

A spark of a CM that is akin to the energy and dynamism of Hatate.

Then a RW option that is as close as we can find to someone like Jota.

So when I say we don't need wholesale changes, two players to come in immediately for the starting 11 and 2 to come in as solid prospects still seems like a lot for a Jan window.

When the club will already look at the situation and see the size of squad and the amount of players we already have.

Let alone, the issues we have with homegrown players when the likes of Taylor (least in fans opinions), Ralston, Forrest, Welsh and Turnbull aren't likely seen as long term solutions whereby even some of those names can only accept for so long, being a bench warmer.

 

Left back is obviously the biggest priority. After that maybe another striker.

We're stacked for wingers but few of them are match winners, so we could do with one more there, but I think that's unlikely. Same goes for another CM.

Goalkeeper still needed too, though maybe not urgently in Jan.

 

Left back is the main priority, in fact it's the only MUST in this window. I reckon we'll be out of Europe by then so the current squad is good enough domestically, left back aside.

Think it's more important to get Holm, Yang, Gus and Tilio out on loan to prepare for next season.

All that said, it's absolutely vital we are laying the foundations for deals in the summer for priority targets. I've no doubt that stuff is already underway, but the type of player we all want will be difficult to get in January so any movement in our out should be in preparation for said priority targets.

 

I’d love a proper unit of a dm with good experience etc but I don’t think right now central midfield is a priority as we do have good options there and I think Iwata could do really well there with some more game time still tbh.
For me it’s
1. Left back- spend money to bring in real quality

2. Gk, even though I think hart has been good this season we need an upgrade/someone to challenge him that will take over next season as no.1.

3. Striker- big poacher type with a good goal scoring record as it would provide a different option to kyogo and give us the chance to send Oh on loan to develop him n get him more minutes.

I think these 3 positions are priority and then I would like us to bring in a tricky right winger. Hopefully Hatate will be back fit come January aswell for another option cm.

 

We have absolutely no quality depth at left back or striker. So those two are priorities.

Still poor on the wings as well. Nowhere near enough quality.

 

Small number of quality additions at GK, lb, CF, winger and some honest conversations with a large number of the squad as a whole as to where their future is..

New GK/ bain
Johnston/ Ralston
CCV/ lagerbielke/ Welsh
Scales/ Nawrocki/
New lb/ Taylor
ORiley/ holm
McGregor/ iwata
Hatate/ Bernardo
Maeda/ abada/ Forrest
Kyogo/ new striker/ oh
Palma/ new winger/ Yang

If we are well clear +7 points at the winter break we have an opportunity over the rest of the season to actually utilise the squad and see if certain players have it..



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There's being active and then there's the Celtic brand of being active which usually results in us bringing in even more projects and/or guys who will not be good enough for the first tram and will just sit on their *'s collecting a healthy wage. Hopefully I'm wrong but how many times have we been on here saying we need a new LB, GK, box to box CM etc. only to be let down by Lawell et al.

 

In all honesty just want to see quality over quantity. If we brought in a £6M+ lb and keeper then that would do nicely. Reassess from there.

We need a striker and maybe a winger but currently the lb and GK positions are the areas that are undoubtedly our weak areas. If we had a Fraser Forster and Tierney in this team then I think we would be a very tough unit to break down and start attacks far quicker.

Of course not saying it has to be Forster and Tierney but if we managed to find players of that standard it would be a far better approach then signing 3 players in each position at £2M a shot and hoping we hit the jackpot

 

Notoriously difficult window will be the line peddled.

Expect 8 outgoings be lucky to get 3 in max

 

To be honest that wouldn't be a bad start. As long as the 3 are ready for the first team. At least 8 players we could shift without even noticing they left..

What I think will actually happen = * all

 

"we looked at a number players that our recruitment team had identified, players who would have added quality to key positions in our squad, but unfortunately we couldn't get anything over the line. January is always a difficult window with regards to the level of players we are looking for, but we may revisit some of those targets in the summer. We have a strong squad as it stands, and there are a few coming back from injury who will add to the managers options for the remainder of the season......." - Celtic every year since Peter Lawwell first darkened our doorstep.

 

They'll need to spend in January.

They should've done more in the summer. Predictions about weak positions and lack of depth are coming true so it will need to be addressed in January or we'll be in trouble. As usual, it will now cost more to fix the problem than it would've cost to just do the job properly during the summer window.

 

We need to shift a significant number of squad players and make space for new players this window.

 

1. LB
2. AMF (pacey/athletic)
3. STRIKER
4. DMF
5. GK

In that order. 2 of these are a must in January at a minimum.

Then addressing the wingers next year. Numbers there, but not so much in quality.

Some need moved on clearly as well.

Hope we don't hesitate about these now Ange has gone.