Celtic Transfers 2024

Respectfully, that's exactly the issue, the linked names ARE probably as good as many of current squad but are not automatic first team picks that materially improve the team.
Also agree it's lazy journos looking for stories wheeling out all the old and obvious names (hopefully!)

I want to see 'our level' being at least one tier higher than where are today, which frankly is mediocre.

We have the funds, but it's unlikely we have the ambition.

 

You can't have a squad full of automatic first team picks. You're never going to finance that and keep everyone happy.

 

I'm saying that we should not be signing any so called squad players this window.
The squad is already far too big and needs a radical downsize by at least 10, even 15 players (loan, sell, release) with some replaced by new recruits.

We need 5-6 high quality first teamers that materially improve us across a few key positions.
A GK, #6, #9, #3 and #5 - plus MoR replacement.
That's it.
Max cost around £70-£80M (inc wages) which would be a net spend of £35-£45M ish after MoR and other surplus sales.
That sounds crazy high but really it's not v the means we have available.

 

We absolutely need better squad players.

Take the CB position. Currently, we have 6 CBs. CCV, Scales, Nawrocki, Welsh, Lagerbielke and Kobayashi. We likely need to get rid of Welsh, Lagerbielke and Kobayashi. McKenna is an upgrade on every single CB we currently have, apart from CCV. It's not just that our first team 11 isn't good enough in some areas(GK, LB, LCB, CM, RW) but we don't have good enough players coming off of the bench or standing in for injuries/suspensions. I want two CBs in the summer, I want McKenna on a free for a variety of different reasons and I want another CB who has good experience and is at a good age to progress, like Jake Clarke Saltier. I also want Kobayashi, Welsh and Lagerbielke moved on. In one position, you're reducing the number of players you have available.

It's the same on the wings. Maeda, Palma, MJ, Haksabanovic, Forrest, Khun and Yang. 7 * wingers and out of that list, I'd only keep 3. (Forrest, Khun and Maeda)...I'd prefer to have 2 wingers each side, plus a versatile player who can play on the wings and up front, like a Kvistgaarden.

 

Both would be sideways moves, IMHO.

 

As a team with a solid spine, I actually think we're ok.

CCV, Calmac, Kyogo, Hatate etc.

It's the GK, LB areas and the wings that worry me most.

A CB to partner CCV shouldn't be hard to come by, especially if we go shopping in the right market , with the right age bracket (24-28).
A striker shouldn't be much trouble either. There's plenty of idah/ giakomakis type strikers out there who would bang them in for us in the spl, especially around the 4-6m mark.

What we REALLY REALLY * need is prepare a team for Europe, the rest falls into place. We simply cannot go into the CL with the likes of Scales and Taylor as half of our backline. What we've also been sorely lacking is a proper DMF, a big brick wall * to help us in Europe ... And so far, the only thing close to that we've been linked with is that mucklord Rodgers had a Leicester.

What don't need so much of an overhaul as we do a targeted upgrade, in at least 5 positions.

Can't see it though.

Need a keeper... Linked with Fraser Forster.
Need a LB.... Linked with KT.
Need a striker.... Linked with Eddy.
Need a midfielder... Linked with Armstrong.
Need a winger... Linked with Jota

I wouldn't be surprised if we were linked Giakomakis tomorrow.

 

Buying squad players shouldn't be a priority. We should be upgrading the XI and getting players to compete with the quality we already have to push everyone on a level. The likes of Taylor, Scales and Kuhn need improving on then that puts those better players on our bench creating depth. Hatate, Kuhn and Maeda need competition for places to keep/improve their levels. Targeting squad players at this point just bloats it even further when we should be trimming the deadwood while bringing in quality.

 

GK
AJ CCV CB LB
DM
McGregor Hatate
RW Kyogo Maeda
​

That's the bear minimum needed for progression in Europe. Even then, there's still question marks about some of those guys I've kept in the starting eleven.

Agree with the comments above. Having decent options off the bench is necessary but we desperately need guys to come straight into the starting eleven. We'll keep stagnating if we just add squad filler who may be better than Taylor, Scales etc. Really and truly we need to try and sign someone better than CCV to partner him. Someone better than Kyogo. Someone better than Hatate, etc.

If we don't finally address these problems, we'll be out of Europe by Christmas again. Guaranteed.

 

He still walks into this side even though you think he’s overrated.

 

I would have them both too.

only issues would be is the wages, I’m sure they are silly money but at the same time no one has come forward for them.

 

Both would prob command high wages but surely it's a market we need to take advantage of more when you don't have the transfer fee to pay you can then afford the wages or a signing on fee

 

Aye, agree with all that. See if we make good first team signings as you suggest (I know!) then, for me, hatate becomes the weak link.

 

Agree with the posts above..

We need real quality in..

A starting keeper. Probably a better number 2..

A starting left sided centre half. And another of good quality to battle it out..

A starting left back..

A starting centre mid. Another of real quality and dynamism outwith Bernardo..

A starting right winger. Kuhn's nowhere near it and behind Forrest..

We really need to ship loads out though which will be the hardest bit..

Siegrist out of contract?
Bernabei
Nawrocki
Lagerbielke
Kobayashi
McCarthy
Kwon
Haksabanovic
Johnston (good news)
Yang
Tilio
Oh

No a single name there would be missed in the slightest. Being picky could even add some more names to that..

 

With Kühn and Forrest available, I don't see us buying a right winger. Both are at least somewhat rated by Rodgers. We'll get a GK, CM, hopefully a LB and Idah if Norwich relent.

 

Forrest jumped ahead of Kuhn but at his age wasn't and probably wouldn't be too fussy about being a bit part player..

We absolutely should be prioritising that as a must for a starting right winger..

Kuhn doesn't warrant being picked as an understudy to Forrest which says a lot about how he fared overall..

 

Paid moussa and Kolo £1.5m signing on fees

 

He was flat out in the stands at st mirren in January on the phone.. we went on to sign Kuhn and idah on loan over the next 4 weeks

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