Ronny Deila has confirmed that his summer transfer plans can’t be confirmed until Celtic’s Champions League fate is sealed.
If the hoops win the SPFL title they face three rounds of qualifiers to reach the group stages and a windfall of close to £30m following the new broadcasting deal agreed by UEFA.
Celtic lost out to Maribor in the final qualifying round this season with Deila unable to go into the transfer market for the qualifiers.
After losing out to the Slovenian’s Celtic paid £2m for Stefan Scepovic but the striker has found himself sidelined with Leigh Griffiths and John Guidetti competing for the striking role.
During the winter transfer window Gary Mackay-Steven and Stuart Armstrong were signed from Dundee United but Deila’s summer activity looks like being limited with a question mark over whether the club will be playing in the group stages of the Champions League.
“We know that to earn money we have to be in the Champions League, that’s the way that it is at Celtic,” the hoops boss admitted. “That’s what we are aiming for.
“I can’t know my budget if I don’t know where we are. You don’t get a budget for money that you don’t have. We know the circumstances, what we can do, everything will be much easier if we reach the Champions League.”
Deila’s main activity is likely to be in defence with Virgil van Dijk likely to be sold before after two season’s at the club.
With Jason Denayer returning to Manchester City Deila will be left with Charlie Mulgrew, Mikael Lustig and Eoghan O’Connell as central defensive options.