Celtic are closing in on the signing of PSV Eindhoven talent Joel Van den Berg, but they have much more business still to do, and the deadline is closing in.
The Bhoys have been slow with their business this summer, and it's puzzling how they are racing the deadline to get signings over the line.
The Hoops knew which key players were going to leave this summer, and they knew they had to avoid another summer of slow recruitment, but they somehow still ended up lagging with their business.
But they are where they are, and while their business seems to have been modified by their failing to qualify for the Champions League, even after welcoming in £22million for Arne Engels, Celtic are now racing the clock to get more deals over the line.
PSV midfielder Van den Berg will be the next, but Celtic still have more needs to address ahead of the deadline, which is at 5pm on Wednesday, but with the UEFA deadline at 11pm, their business has to be concluded by then for new signings to be eligible to play in Europe.
In an ideal world, Celtic still need to sign a holding midfielder after Van den Berg. Martin O'Neill may feel as though he can get by without one, but if this team is to do well in the Europa League, it must have another out-and-out holding midfielder. Veterans Callum McGregor and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are not going to be sufficient over a long season, not to compete with teams like Benfica in Europe.
Elsewhere, Celtic still need a left-back to back-up Kieran Tierney, who is not able to consistently play twice per week. There are suggestions Crystal Palace man Justin Devenney could be signed, with the midfielder also able to play as a left wing-back, but that could be seen as a duct tape job given Celtic could really do with an out-and-out left-back. They already have Liam Scales who can cover there, playing out of position.
Last but not least, the Hoops also need to sign a new back-up goalkeeper to Viljami SInisalo. The 24-year-old has done enough to earn a run as the number one having been very consistent so far this season, so it's likely Celtic will replace Kasper Schmeichel with a back-up keeper rather than a starter.
We could well end up seeing a veteran sign to play the position, but goalkeeping depth is a must ahead of the deadline.
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