Avid Celtic fans will be able to recite the club’s favourite transfer window slogan off by heart.
Every six months, we hear the phrase: “We want to come out every transfer window stronger than we’ve gone in.” It’s usually coming out of Peter Lawwell’s mouth but quite often it’s the manager of the day reciting it too.
It’s a simple phrase that needs little explanation. But it may be about to be tested over the next three weeks or so.
What has happened for Celtic in the transfer window?
The Scottish summer transfer window has been open for two months. It’s got another three weeks to go before closing on Monday 2nd September. So far, Celtic have recruited four players: Christopher Jullien, Boli Bolingoli-Mbombo, Luca Connell and Hatem Abd Elhamed.
Two mainstays from last season – Mikael Lustig and Dedryck Boyata – have departed the scene while former regulars Kieran Tierney and Scott Sinclair are both expected to move on Thursday. That means that Lennon and Lawwell have a job on their hands to make their favourite statement true.
Celtic can’t be considered stronger by replacing Tierney with Bolingoli. The club won’t be able to find a left-back as good as the Scotland international – he’s a £25million player after all. But they must make sure they splash out on a player who is an upgrade on the Belgian.
If Sinclair is away too then we must look to find another left-winger. Mikey Johnston has looked good in the early part of the season but the jury is still out on whether he’ll be able to keep his sparkling form up.
Lennon could also do with another right-back, a centre-back and possibly even another central-midfielder. If the club rake in £25million for Tierney, the Northern Irishman will be looking for a good percentage of that to be reinvested.
Whether that will happen or not is another story.
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