Celtic's Northern Irish Interim manager Martin O'Neill greets FC Utrecht's Dutch coach Ron Jans before the UEFA Europa League league-stage football match between Celtic and FC Utrecht at Celtic Park in Glasgow on January 29, 2026. (Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN / AFP via Getty Images)
Martin O’Neill has given a positive response to speculation that Celtic are in talks to sign Fares Ghedjemis and Damir Redzic.
Word emerged on Thursday afternoon about Celtic’s interest in the duo with less than five days to go in the transfer window.
O’NEILL ON THE WINGER TRAIL
Since arriving on January 5 Celtic have only added Tomas Cvancara to their squad despite expectations of substantial backing for the interim boss.
O’Neill has been using a variety of phrases to deflect attention away from the lack of transfer activity.
At his pre-match conference for the win over Utrecht he claimed that strenuous work was going on to bring in fresh signings.
When questioned last night about Ghedjemis from Serie B side Frosinone and Redzis from Slovak side DAC Dunajska Streda there was a notable change in tone in the answers from the Celtic boss.
The Sun reports the hoops boss saying:
You wouldn’t be a million miles away! Could it be one or the other? It could be.
There has been progress on certain things and I think we can move it along in the next couple of days.
I don’t want to be that cryptic but I would hate to say something is certain and then it fell away.
I am very hopeful that we will get recruits in.
I am looking for a bit of quality to supplement and improve the squad.
We need that, especially with the extra games in Europe.
It was unclear whether Celtic are looking to sign both players or just one. Both are primarily right-wingers.
EXTRA FIXTURES
During the two 2025 transfer windows Celtic sold Nicolas Kuhn without bringing in any replacement.
With James Forrest now aged 34 signed a new right winger would appear to be a priority position.
Last night’s win over Utrecht takes Celtic through to a Round of 16 Play Off against Ferencvaros or Stuttgart.
Those matches are to be played on February 19 and 26, ahead of a home match against Hibs and a trip to Ibrox.
At any time that would be a testing 10 day period, with the squad currently so thin that issue will be highlighted.
Celtic can make three changes to their UEFA squad for the Round of 16 Play Off with no more changes permitted. The draw will be made at 12 noon GMT.

Nothing like going to the lucky dip section of the transfer window Joe. In a way i’d rather loans than buying players on the cheap just to increase the stockpile of unusable players we already have on the books.
Let’s hope Joe that we finally sign some quality but most surprising thing about last night was listening to Lennon on tv sprouting his bull shit about never having a problem with this board signing players during his time as manager , Lennon is fast becoming a chair leader for Desmond’s bitches.
ALL respect gone for NL after he threw The TEN with Lawwell and now dares to say the board was okay at the time. Wottacunt he’s turning out. Cheap and despicable.
And let’s remember, MON is gone in the summer so mibbees a job going for NL with much higher wages? Fukkim. Personally I thought he was well over-rated as a player with his negative, hold ’em style. Remember AC Milan away, a team waiting to be crushed by good offensive moves and he just wanted to fuck about at the back. Aye, that worked, we lost 2-0 if I remember correctly against the worst AC team in living memory, at least on their play that night at the San Siro.
Sensational news, two players from two clubs I’ve never heard about, world class in everything they do, MY ARSE….
My first instinct too, Billy, typical of PL’s poodle.
If they’ve been properly scouted (not just stats) then maybe, but it couldn’t be by Nicholson or a previous arsehole of a CEO, Lawwell who’s stink still infects CP.
One day……….
I see Phil mentioned a scout had sent in 40 names which seems to have been ignored
So we are reliant on MON – Maloney & Fotheringham’s contacts + whatever our scouting team can unearth.
Hopefully we don’t face Stuttgart who have real quality and will I strongly suspect be a step too far. We need to resolve Maeda & Hatate situation quickly(!) also, maybe move on a couple of others who are contributing little, quite a few to choose from
We DO face Stuttgart!
Aye well – We can concentrate fully on the league from February 27th onwards !