January will be a season-defining month for Celtic. The Hoops have seven fixtures in the calendar this month, starting with the small matters of a Glasgow derby at Parkhead on Saturday. A clash with Premiership leaders Hearts at Tynecastle in three weeks time also looms large.
However, supporters are equally concerned with this month's off-field events. Following a catastrophic summer window, expect the four in a row champions to spend big as they seek to retain their title once more. Thus, as under-pressure Wilfried Nancy looks to reshape a squad devoid of quality, which players could be poised to depart?
5 Celtic players who walk a thin tightrope into the January transfer window
Jahmai Simpson-Pusey
This one is pretty self-explanatory; one of the most wasteful loans of all-time will surely come to an end.
Jahmai Simpson-Pusey was very highly-rated when he moved to Glasgow in the summer, having made six appearances for Manchester City last season. He'd previously captained the Sky Blues to FA Youth Cup glory in 2024, also named last year's Premier League 2 player of the season.
Thus, it remains something of a mystery as to why he has made just one appearance in hoops, starting out of position at right-back as they crushed Kilmarnock 4-0 in November.
Three different managers, Brendan Rodgers, Martin O'Neill and now Nancy, have seemingly not fancied the 20 year old. Thus, it would be best for all parties if Man City recalled him and loaned the youngster elsewhere, which appears likely.
Yang Hyun-jun
A player who very nearly left Celtic during a chaotic summer was Yang Hyun-jun, so could he be on the move for real this time?
Back on deadline day, the South Korean international traveled down to the English Midlands to finalise a move to Birmingham City. However, the transfer collapsed after Celtic pulled the plug, unable to identify a replacement in time.
Well, they're probably glad they did, given that Yang has been a useful squad member this season, scoring against Partick Thistle, Feyenoord and then Livingston at Almondvale on Saturday.
Yang is currently being used as a makeshift wing-back in Nancy's 3-4-2-1 shape, but is a far from natural fit for that role. So, if there is interest in him from down south or in Europe, Yang could be moved on, with a more adept wing-back signed instead.
Paulo Bernardo
In a Celtic squad lacking quality throughout, Paulo Bernardo's lack of minutes remains puzzling.
So far this season, the Portuguese under-21 international has made just 13 appearances, totalling 393 minutes. Of these, only four have been starts, included in the XI against Braga, Livingston in August, Dundee United just before Christmas and Motherwell on Tuesday. Three of these four, including both in December, resulted in defeats, not that he is to blame.
Since arriving from Benfica, initially on loan and then for £6.5 million, Bernardo has shown plenty of quality. His most notable contribution is a rocket of a strike during an Old Firm derby win two years ago. However, he has not been made a key figure by three different bosses, so could push for a move, perhaps back to Portugal or elsewhere.
Shin Yamada
While Celtic have had plenty of success in recruiting Japanese players in recent times, Reo Hatate, Daizen Maeda and Kyōgo Furuhashi spring to mind, that does not tell the whole story.
Yōsuke Ideguchi, Yūki Kobayashi and Tomoki Iwata all departed rather quickly without much of a trace, and Shin Yamada looks likely to follow in the footsteps of the latter trio.
The striker joined from Kawasaki Frontale in the summer for a reported fee of £1.5 million, having scored 32 goals for the Sky Blue and Blacks. This includes a tally of 19 in the 2024 J League season, also helping them reach a first-ever AFC Champions League Final.
However, Celtic supporters have seen little evidence of this goal-scoring prowess. The 25 year old has made nine appearances for the club, all bar one of which have been brief cameos, yet to score nor register an assist. Thus, he could soon be heading back to Japan, or another obscure destination.
Johnny Kenny
With Kelechi Ịheanachọ having only made two appearances since suffering a hamstring injury against Sturm Graz on 23 October, Johnny Kenny has seen exponentially more minutes than anyone would've anticipated.
The Irishman has made 18 appearances in total this season, including 11 starts, scoring five goals. This includes breaking the deadlock with a towering header against Rangers in the League Cup semi-finals. Nevertheless, fans remains unconvinced by his quality.
Kenny did score 26 times during a loan spell at Shamrock Rovers, but the League of Ireland is a pretty low level, and he has struggled to make the step-up. So, if, as anticipated, Celtic do spend big on a new centre-forward, could Kenny be the man to make way?