Celtic are almost halfway through their January transfer window.
And so far, it’s taking a familiar shape. Martin O’Neill has openly admitted that the club are lagging behind their two title rivals on and off the pitch.
The Hoops’ only January signing, Julian Araujo, is a short-term loan addition completed under the watch of Wilfried Nancy. They are yet to make an attacking addition.
Jocelin Ta Bi is developing into something of a saga, with medical issues and Sunderland links causing confusion over whether the deal will actually happen at all, despite the player openly discussing his excitement to come to Glasgow.
But that’s no excuse for a club which has known about the need for a striker months in advance – Peter Martin has set the record straight.
Kieron Bowie to Celtic… yes or no?
Peter Martin on Celtic’s transfer business
Celtic fans’ trust in their club’s higher management in executing a good transfer window simply couldn’t be lower.
The summer window was so poor that it eventually led to the premature departure of Brendan Rodgers, an unproductive between Michael Nicholson and Celtic fans, and a truly chaotic AGM which had to be adjourned.
READ MORE: Jocelin Ta Bi’s remarkable Celtic saga takes new twist, deal back on after Sunderland links
Even the mainstream Scottish media are widely condemning the club’s handling of the last six months – not least Martin.
Speaking on PLZ Soccer, he said: “As well as the inactivity, I’m not quite sure where this board is going.
“They’ve got a real situation. Not only from the fallout with the fans, displeasure at the way the club’s been run, but when you’ve got close-on £80 million in the bank…
“Look at the players that they’re looking in that January transfer window, with the league at stake. You’ve got Callum Wilson potentially being named in there. Kieron Bowie.
“And they’re looking, potentially, at trying to get a winger as well as a centre half. You’re saying to yourself: ‘This is one massive roll of the dice.’
“They look as if they are not only lagging behind, but I just think they are actually throwing fuel onto the fire ; giving more ammunition to the fans and their condemnation of the way things are run.”
I am choosing Callum Wilson/Kyogo Furuhashi because…
Who have Celtic been linked with this week?
Mohamed Bamba is the latest Celtic target to appear in reports, with the Metz striker reportedly subject to a loan-to-buy bid from the Hoops.
Kieron Bowie also looks like a serious option. The Scotland striker wouldn’t come cheap, however, with Hibs reportedly valuing him above £6 million.
Celtic’s scouting of Parfait Guiagon has also been revealed, but the Charleroi winger looks more likely to move to Ibrox at this point.
You could, at least, say that the recalling of Stephen Welsh from Motherwell is something of a new signing…
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