What’s next for Celtic after double transfer move

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Fans had to wait a while but Celtic have finally gotten the ball moving on summer transfers with the double signing of goalkeepers this week.

Joe Hart’s retirement left a gaping hole in Brendan Rodgers’ squad that was never going to be filled by Scott Bain and Benjamin Siegrist.

The club needed to address the position as the primary priority and they have delivered by bringing Viljami Sinisalo and Kasper Schmeichel to the club.

Schmeichel is expected to operate as number one in the short term. At 37, he isn’t going to be at the Scottish champions for years but fulfils the criteria of quality and experience for the coming season.

Sinisalo, 22, has arrived on a five-year deal and has time to acclimatise at Celtic before eventually challenging for that number-one spot from within the squad. Ideally, it’s a succession plan.

Other positions now need love at Celtic

The work is only beginning, however. Celtic have plenty of other positions in the team that need strengthening before the transfer window shuts at the end of August.

With just a fortnight until the Scottish Premiership season starts, there’s no time to waste. Celtic can’t stand still or regress from last season, they must push forward and continue to build the squad.

Reports this month indicate that Celtic are on the hunt for a new centre-back to compete for a starting spot beside Cameron Carter-Vickers. Burnley defender Dara O’Shea has been the biggest deal linked.

It has been stated that a new left-back could join the club, too, with no senior competition currently in place for Greg Taylor.

Celtic could start to get busy in the transfer market

Meanwhile, reports continue to come thick and fast regarding Adam Idah and Paulo Bernardo, who both had success on loan at the club last term.

Celtic are also said to have made contact with Royal Antwerp regarding Michel-Ange Balikwisha, indicating that the club are keen on signing a winger.

That’d be five signings that really add to the mix at the Bhoys and help bolster Rodgers with the kind of depth he needs to take the club to new heights.

That’s all before we consider potentially having to replace the much-wanted Matt O’Riley.

It’d be heavy activity and it remains to be seen whether the club follow through with these plans, but the indications are that we’re set for a busy month of ins and outs.