Celtic’s winter transfer business may not be done yet.
Despite the completion of three loan deals on Deadline Day, Martin O’Neill has now seemingly turned his attention to the free agent market.
The window saw Celtic add much-needed attacking reinforcements in the form of Tomas Cvancara, Junior Adamu and Joel Mvuka.
Defensive options were also added in the form of Julian Araujo and Benjamin Arthur. All five additions were on loan.
But as he searches for a free transfer, O’Neill has his eye on a very familiar midfielder.
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Martin O’Neill compares Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to Craig Bellamy at Celtic
In one of the more unlikely rumours of the winter, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is of interest to Celtic.
The former England, Arsenal and Liverpool midfielder is a free agent after spending the last two seasons at Besiktas.
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Speaking about the link, O’Neill was brutally honest, even comparing Oxlade-Chamberlain to ex-Celtic man Craig Bellamy.
He said: “No it’s not the money, it’s not for the money. I have spoken to him. Obviously I had a look at what he was doing in Turkey and it was fine.
“He was playing in a more withdrawn role, I think Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was out there and asked if he would help in that sort of position. You don’t lose ability.
“You might lose a bit of hunger, but he was definitely up for it. He was up for a challenge. At 32 years of age he’s still got it. He will have other options. He is training at Arsenal and Arsenal have had a few in so they might even take him on.
“But he knew about the club, he had spoken to Joe Hart, that was just by chance or a coincidence. I’m not saying he spoke to Joe Hart two days ago, it might have been months ago.
But it was fine. He lives down in London. I really left it. I didn’t progress any further, yet. It’s only 24, 36 hours ago.
“Would he be a Craig Bellamy of years ago? Bellamy’s still talked about now. People still sent messages about ‘why did he not sign permanently?’ Well, because he didn’t want to come permanently!
“If you can get a player of that sort of calibre that would be great. It would be really great. But I can understand that there are lots of other things around there.
“Arsenal too. Listen, if we were even on a close list that would be fine. If it doesn’t materialise we have good players in here at this minute.
“But I’d love to have him at the end of the day. I think in time getting into match day mode, l don’t think that would be a major problem.”
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Celtic’s recent use of free transfers
It may not always be the sexiest kind of transfer, but Celtic’s use of the free agent market in recent years has led to some seriously impactful additions.
Just last summer, Kieran Tierney returned to Glasgow on a pre-contract, with Kelechi Iheanacho following him a few months later.
The summer prior, Kasper Schmeichel was signed on a free transfer after the expiration of his spell at Anderlecht.
Aaron Mooy must also be mentioned. Signed by Ange Postecoglou in 2022, he only spent one year in Glasgow after his signing, but what a year it was.
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