Martin O'Neill has reiterated his desire to get new faces in before Celtic's Champions League qualifying play-off with LASK. The Bhoys have struggled to get deals done so far this summer, signing only two players so far.
Celtic managed to get through their league opener against Dundee, winning 1-0, and while there wasn't too much to read into, given it was the first game and the Bhoys still have Arne Engels in their midfield at this point, it feels as though the holes will start to appear.
O'Neill knows that, and there is the prospect of losing Engels and Alistair Johnston, with the latter now attracting serious interest from Everton. Celtic lost in the Champions League qualifiers last season, and it would be a huge blow to lose out again.
The first leg of this year's qualifiers take place on August 19, with the second leg a week later, and Austrian club LASK await.
Celtic need to get their act together
Celtic continue to fail in the transfer market, and time is running out in the window itself, with just four weeks remaining, let alone before that all-important first leg.
Asked this week if he wants new faces before the game, Celtic boss O'Neill said: "I would like to do that. I would definitely like to do that. I think the most important thing of all is obviously getting the players in and getting them to work with each other.
“This is the point. Kasper is getting to know the players’ names as much as anything else and getting players to play together. Even if it was only on the practice field. Just to get that mindset as much as anything else.”
Celtic will receive big money for qualifying for the Champions League, while they will have to settle for a fraction of that if they end up in the Europa League. It would be wise for the Bhoys to take some chances in the market with the knowledge that it will be worth it if Champions League qualification is secured.
O'Neill also knows that, but most importantly, he knows he has major gaps in his squad, and it's something that has to be addressed soon. Celtic have been making excuses, but it's getting beyond that stage at this stage.
The Hoops are going to have to accept they will need to move on to plan B signings to fill gaps that simply can't afford to go unaddressed come the end of the window.
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