Ange Postecoglou is looking to get off to another flying start to the January transfer window.
On December 31 of last year Celtic announced the signings of Reo Hatate, Daizen Maeda and Yosuke Ideguchi with two of those players heavily involved in the title win. For good measure Matt O’Riley was signed midway through January from MK Dons and also made a telling contribution.
Under previous regimes Celtic tended to leave business until the end of January to see who was surplus to requirements elsewhere which led to players like Jonjoe Kenny, Jeremy Toljan and Marian Shved arriving at the club.
In just over a year Postecoglou has put his stamp on every area of the club with recruitment key, so far the success rate has been exceptional.
Approaching his fourth transfer window Postecoglou has very firm ideas about what is required, telling the Daily Record:
It was really beneficial for us last year to do our business early in January. That helped us in the back half of the season. We’re going to have to do something similar this January. We are well underway with our planning.
Our strategy is already in place and, hopefully, it all comes together. We’re looking everywhere in terms of our recruitment.
Celtic’s success in the transfer market makes the club an attractive destination for players worldwide.
A year ago Hatate and O’Riley were being told about the club’s plans for the Champions League, now ahead of the January window there is firm evidence that that competition is the level Celtic are at, not just aspiring towards.
