Celtic resigned to Nicholson drawing a transfer blank

Celtic fans are preparing for another transfer failure from Michael Nicholson.

The hoops have until 11pm on Tuesday to make two changes to their Champions League squad.

Arne Engels transfer to West Ham naturally creates scope for a replacement. Livingston bound Adam Montgomery is also in the squad registered with UEFA.

Celtic had been negotiating with West Ham for about a fortnight before celebrating the Engels deal on Saturday night.

Despite being bad mouthed by well placed messengers Celtic sold Engels for £22m. Doubling their money on the fee paid to Augsburg two years ago.

Unlike the write-offs on the project signings of Mark Lawwell in the summer of 2023.

CELTIC FAIL TO PREPARE

Martin O’Neill faced the media today to preview the Champions League Play Off tie against Linz.

Despite the scaling down of quality in the squad over the last three transfer windows nothing has really changed at Celtic.

Transfer windows are viewed as an opportunity to create profit rather than improve the team.

Sitting on a surplus of around £8m Nicholson hasn’t bothered trying to find a replacement for Engels.

QUESTION: I know there’s only a few hours left before the registration deadline, but is there any chance of adding to the squad further for this tie? It’s 11 O’Clock tonight.

Well, I wouldn’t really be sure. There’s a fairly decent chance that there’ll be nothing happening.

QUESTION: What stage are you at just now in terms of trying to find a replacement for Arne Engels?

We’re still in the process of trying to do that. We haven’t been able to get someone in, in time, to do that. But there are a number of players that we’re looking at and hopefully we will by the end of the transfer window.

A well run football club would have been scouting and recruiting Engels’ replacement since January.

Celtic turned down bids from Nottingham Forest due to timing, it was clear from that moment the midfielder would be leaving in the summer.

Going into the most lucrative games of the season O’Neill finds himself without Paulo Bernardo, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Engels.

O’Neill has very limited options in midfield. An injury to Callum McGregor or Ben Nygren would be a massive blow. Mika Baur is probably the favourite ahead of Luke McCowan and Reo Hatate to start against LASK.

Against that Kasper Hogh has required no settling in period.

After last season’s Champions League exploits with Bodo Glimt he’ll be anxious to return to that platform again.

As will team-mate Camilo Duran who scored his first goal for Celtic in the 4-0 win over Dundee United.