Celtic were expected to sign two strikers and a couple more wingers on deadline day. They ended up with only one new addition. Sebastian Touneki was brought in from Hammarby for a transfer fee believed to be in the region of £5.2 million. For the Hoops, that is a decent sum of money, and one would expect the Tunisian international to be competing for a starting spot at the very least.
That being said, we have seen plenty of Celtic moves not work out in recent times. So, it remains to be seen what the future holds for Tounekti in Glasgow.
From the little we have seen, Tounekti seems like a decent talent. He is comfortable with the ball at his feet and can get past his defender. Of course, he needs to be more efficient in the final third of the pitch if he wants to be a regular starter for Celtic.
That being said, it is a lot about adjusting to a new league as well. And there might be some doubts about Tounekti's suitability in the Premiership. As reported by 67 Hail Hail, Michael Stewart said on Scottish Football Social Club:
"I was talking to a couple of guys in Sweden that I know. Not being overly negative about things.
“But they were saying that their concern with Tounekti would be that at Hammarby, obviously, you have the ability to have a couple of bad games, it’s not going to be the end of the world.
“They thought that the pace of the Scottish game would perhaps be a little too much for him, so we will wait and see."
Worrying claim made about Celtic's new signing Sebastian Tounekti
Well, that will be a worry for Celtic fans. One can only hope that those people are wrong and that Tounekti takes to Scottish football like a duck to water.
Also, one cannot overlook the pressure factor that comes with playing for a club like Celtic. Questions are being raised about Michel-Ange Balikwisha after just one game. Some players thrive in that sort of environment. Others simply cannot perform at their best. It will be interesting to see which category Tounekti falls under.
At the end of the day, all we can do is wait and watch. Tounekti deserves a chance to show the fans what he is capable of in a Celtic jersey. Hopefully, he proves the doubters wrong and becomes a major success story.