Ange Postecoglou has plans in place to cope with any of his first team squad leaving.
With less than two weeks remaining of the transfer window activity is bound to step up with two Celtic players the subject of speculation.
Josip Juranovic and Giorgos Giakoumakis are both under contract until May 2026 but there is a decent chance that they won’t be around for next month’s Viaplay Cup Final at Hampden.
Postecoglou has yet to hear directly about Urawa Red Diamonds’ interest in Giakoumakis but the Celtic boss is wise to the ways of the world. Last week he admitted that 10% of the transfer speculation might carry some substance.
The Celtic boss has a pragmatic approach to the transfer business, speaking to The Sun he revealed:
If people exit, then we have plans in place already that will counter that but having brought in three players already we are in a position where we aren’t on tenterhooks about who is coming in or who is leaving.
Our plans are in place, and the plan is to bring in at least one more, so we’re still working on that and if anything else is needing to be done then we are in a good position to do it.
We’ve got a really strong squad, which I’m happy with, and we can make the decision over incomings or exits without any need for panic.
Our planning has been to get our business done early. We’re still active – I think there’s probably still space for one more.
If no one exits through this window, that’s fine. Yeah, we’ve got a big squad, but with our schedule, everyone will contribute.
Should Juranovic be sold Postecoglou can call on Tony Ralston or Alastair Johnston to play at right-back but if Giakoumakis leave Kyogo Furuhashi is the only natural striker at the club although Daizen Maeda and Liel Abada could be pushed into playing through the centre.