January Transfer Window Not Kind to Celtic So Far

Celtic players and coaches are off to the warmth and riches of Dubai to keep fresh during the Scottish break. However, the work of the club behind the scenes must continue on and that means attention to the January transfer window.

It has long been held by manager Brendan Rodgers would make January transfers his biggest priority. What, with one domestic trophy in the case, the Scottish Premiership title all but officially sewn up and just the Scottish Cup to gain back left on the season.

Looking to the future is a smart move, as the club will find themselves vying for a spot in the Champions League starting in early July. Getting a settled squad before then in the summer transfer window just isn’t feasible.

With all the attention on signings and squad moves this month, things have started off slowly and arguably not the way the Celtic boss would have liked.

Outside of the wait-and-see work permit situation with 19-year-old Ivorian Koussai Eboue, all signing fronts have quieted in the last few days.

It was a good move, made to help shore up the center of the park thanks to the slipping form of Nir Bitton next to the rejuvenated Scott Brown. As long as the work permit situation gets settled (and it should), Eboue could see himself right in to the squad thanks to the time he’s spending with the Bhoys in Dubai (even if it isn’t on the pitch just yet).

But, as with all transfer rumors out there, some are to be taken with a grain of salt to be sure.

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It is hard not to notice a pattern of names associated with Celtic, only to find other homes though.

The latest of those names may be the harshest misses of them all, Nottingham Forest skipper Henri Lansbury. Instead of donning the Hoops, Lansbury is off to Aston Villa in the championship.

His wage bill appears to have been a better fit for the English Championship side, but there is no doubt Celtic could’ve really used his knowledge of the game and his ability to stick in as a midfielder.

Lansbury was the latest, but far from the only name to go elsewhere whilst linked to the Bhoys. Another intriguing option, forward Lex Immers went to Club Brugge on a completely free transfer. All he’s done is go on to score within the first 30 minutes of his debut playing a friendly against Werder Bremen.

Certainly Celtic don’t “need” another forward, but as we saw when both Moussa Dembele and Leigh Griffiths weren’t options, the cupboard behind them at Parkhead was rather bare.

There is plenty of time for things to turn around, but for a club that talked a big game about getting things sorted out in January, they haven’t exactly hit the ground running.

Celtic desperately need reinforcements in the defense, at midfield and up top as well. Few links have come up so far at defense, while most of the other options have been a swing and a miss or complete rubbish from the papers and their rumors.

Likely this window will end with maybe one big move and some intriguing prospects that will get plenty of time in the second half of the season. Brendan Rodgers seems to have a plan to bring youth and promise to the club, while making a few moves for veteran help.

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Will that equal a club capable of not just getting in to the Champions League group stage, but advancing beyond that or even in to the Europa League? The answer to the question will tell us all we need to know about how successful Rodgers’ tenure at Paradise will be.