This isn’t where Celtic want to be, as pre-season begins for the players on Friday.
Celtic’s non-World Cup players will begin their preparations for the 2026/27 season under a cloud of uncertainty, with fans still completely unsure of who will actually be at Lennoxtown.
Added to that, the 2026 summer transfer window is over ten days old, and no new fresh faces have arrived despite many expecting a huge rebuild.
With attention now turning towards Celtic and their quest to maintain their domestic dominance, 67 Hail Hail have outlined a clear to-do list for the champions of Scotland.
What type of changes would you make to Celtic Park? 🏟️🤔
Share us your thoughts, Celtic fans…🍀👇
Martin O’Neill’s backroom staff
Whatever has or hasn’t happened, the fact that this has dragged on so long is rather worrying because it might just be a sign of things to come.
Of course, on the first day back for the players, it’s all about testing and seeing where your fitness levels are.
But Shaun Maloney and Mark Fotheringham need to be in the building to start their magic sooner rather than later.
A Head of Football Operations
On August 3, Celtic will host Dundee for the opening fixture of the 2026/27 season. The mood of the crowd on that evening will depend on how the transfer business has been panning out.
But before the real business can get going, Celtic need a Head of Football Operations in the building following Paul Tisdale’s exit in January.
The powers that be have had months to bring somebody in, but so far, there is nothing, and something needs to be done about it as soon as possible, because those players won’t sign themselves.
The Celtic players who must leave
For some of the players in green and white, the writing will be on the wall, and it’s obvious that they have no future at the football club.
For instance, Reo Hatate. After a very poor campaign, Hatate was left out of Celtic’s matchday squads for the final weeks of the season, as O’Neill made his feelings clear to the Japan star.
This also includes those players who were loaned out last season, and sorting out their futures ASAP.
The quicker these unwanted players can be moved on and taken off the wage bill, the sooner the coaching staff can focus on refreshing the squad from a position of strength, rather than carrying deadwood into the upcoming campaign.
Lots of interest in Arne Engels. But will he leave Celtic?
Name your price for Engels if he leaves…💰💰💰
The likes of Marcelo Saracchi and Kelechi Iheanacho…
Celtic make it hard enough as it is bringing in players, so at least get the easy bit right.
The likes of Marcelo Saracchi, Kelechi Iheanacho, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Julian Araujo, and Benjamin Arthur, to name a few, were either on loan at Parkhead last season or on short-term deals.
If any of these players, such as Saracchi, are of value to the squad, then get them signed up as quickly as possible to take the pressure off other deals that will be harder to conclude.
And then the hardest part…
Celtic’s defeat to Kairat Alamaty last August still stings, and it kicked-started utter chaos in Glasgow.
To put it simply, the Hoops deserved every bit of what happened because nobody was prepared for those two matches, and then the worst-case scenario took place.
With O’Neill now in the dugout, Celtic have to do everything they can to best prepare for those two Champions League qualifiers in August.
If there is a repeat, then the protests will be louder and more vicious than they have ever been.
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