David Friel has named six positions that Celtic are looking to sign players in.
The Sun reporter has led the way this summer with news on Celtic transfer activity.
On June 19 he was the first reporter to name Camilo Duran as a transfer target. On July 10 Celtic announced the signing of the striker from Qarabag.
That time lag is one of the big worries for Celtic fans.
It took more than three weeks to see the Duran deal through.
Ten weeks on from lifting the Scottish Cup at Hampden Celtic have only brought in two new players. In contrast, through one means or another 15 players have left since the double was clinched.
Time is now starting to run against Celtic.
By August 13 they must register their squad with UEFA for the Champions League Play Off against LASK. Two changes can be made by midnight on August 18 but that situation is far from ideal.
Discussing the state of play at Celtic Friel revealed that players are being looked at for almost every area of the team.
Writing in The Sun he explained:
Celtic are still working on a deal for Paderborn midfielder Mika Baur, but the Bundesliga new boys are playing hardball.
Torino star Gvidas Gineitis has also been targeted as a potential replacement for Engels.
O’Neill is chasing a new winger, with Frosinone’s Fares Ghedjemis back on the radar after a failed January bid.
The Serie Aside have rejected all bids for the Algerian so far, with Rangers among the clubs showing interest — and they could demand around £13m — a Scottish record— to allow their star player toleave.
Haissem Hassan has been a Hoops target this summer and theReal Oviedo winger has reportedly KO’d a Saudi offer to stay in Europe.
Celts also want left-back cover and a goalie, but at least one midfielder and a winger are priorities after the arrival of Camilo Duran and Kasper Hogh.
O’Neill added: “I’m hoping we’ll get some players in. We have two and they are decent players for us, but we’re striving to get more in.”
O’Neill has faced every media conference with the straightest of bats every time.
THE EXPECTATION ON CELTIC TO SIGN AND IMPROVE
There hasn’t been a hint of concern at the slow rate of signing players.
Should Alistair Johnston and/or Arne Engels leave before the matches against LASK his faith in Celtic’s recruitment operation could come under strain.
With a bank balance believed to be between £70-100m Celtic should be able to operate confidently in the transfer market.
Being one Play Off tie away from the group stage of the Champions League should be another attraction. It certainly worked to entice Hogh and Duran to move from Norway and Kazakhstan.
Celtic fans are unlikely to hear from O’Neill until Friday when he will preview Sunday’s match at Kilmarnock.
Whether the club will be announcing any signings before then remains to be seen.
With each passing day fans are increasingly concerned by the lack of players arriving.
The ties against LASK are now the obvious target although the transfer window remains open until September 3.
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That’s very observational from young Mr Friel ? We’ve all been aware of his perception at the areas in which Celtic need adequate cover and recruiting players in which to do so for a long time ourselves as fans . He may have good reporting intentions about Celtic FC but ultimately he is employed by that anti Celtic God awful publication of a tabloid rag – The Scottish Sun ! Can you imagine working for an organisation which has a worse reputation than your main rival …the daily Record ? That’s got to be a kick in the Donegal’s? No matter how you analyse it !
Even if the shower of importers did manage to bring in 6 new players, which we all know is never gonna happen, when Engels and Johnston get sold too that will be 16 players out the door Im sure. 16 players out, including 3 of our best players and we’ll get stotted up with some last min loans and frees. Nothing surer
The club run by liars, incompetent people, thief’s, dummies when it suits and most of all all untrustworthy.
f’kin clickbait
Celtic are looking at 6 incomings in the same way I’m looking at a 3some with Megan fox and Rihanna.
Who is Megan Fox?
Celtic are more likely to sign 2, no more than that, obscure players that have not been mentioned in previous reports than sign those that have been put forward in the media up to now! Due to all the dilly-dallying Celtic are going to lose out in a lot of, if not all of the linked talent.
Lol,I wouldn’t bother buying anymore players now auld pishy aka Spew Heevins has made us all aware that sevco are champions already because of the money they have spent on quality players,as opposed to the other SPFL clubs that spent money and brought in players.
Just when will he ever get a prediction correct?
It’s only a matter of time before he’s spewing it out there again him, Tom (Thumb Bum) English and others are screaming and shouting on sevco will do the QUADRUPLE.
Think that Friel guy possibly used to write for The Celtic View…
What a fu**in career comedown goin to The Scummy Scottish Sun !