Celtic have plenty of work to do before the transfer window shuts on September 1.
The Hoops have signed six first-team players, but haven’t yet spent big money on key positions that need to be filled over the next few weeks.
Brendan Rodgers wants two new wingers to replace the crocked Jota – who is out until the start of 2026 – and Nicolas Kuhn who is now with Como.
Rodgers appeared frustrated talking about transfers at his Friday press conference and admitted he needs to convince the board further to allow him to sign the targets he wants.
Halliday ‘surprised’ by number of positions Celtic still need to fill
But former Rangers midfielder and current Motherwell star Andy Halliday is surprised that the attention, he claims, is firmly on replacing Kuhn and less about other areas of the park.
Halliday believes the Hoops still need a new striker to properly replace Kyogo, a quality left-sided centre-back to compete with Liam Scales and Auston Trusty, and a left-back to support Kieran Tierney.
Hayato Inamura could be used as Tierney’s back-up, while Jahmai Simpson-Pusey has been brought in on loan to strengthen the central defensive area. But Halliday thinks that isn’t enough.
He told Clyde 1 Superscoreboard: “I think the most surprising thing for me is, when Celtic fans were calling in (to the show) and they were asking where Celtic can strengthen going into this season, it was the positions for the summer that they (the club) are still looking for now.
“It was a replacement for Kyogo, it was a back-up left-back for Kieran Tierney, it was a left centre-half. So it’s not as if it’s just a replacement for Nicolas Kuhn that’s came overnight.
“It’s three areas of the field that Celtic have had to strengthen over the past two or three months. I can’t give a definitive answer over why it’s taking so long (to sign players).
“You can only speculate that it’s because the £25m plus that they spent on (Arne) Engels, (Adam) Idah and Trusty last summer was seen as Celtic overspending.
“Which is hence the reason why Celtic’s first-team line-up coming into the new season, Engels and Trusty find themselves both on the bench as well.”
The wingers Celtic could sign before window shuts
Two wingers currently stand out when it comes to the recent transfer speculation, and that’s Michel-Ange Balikwisha and Jakob Breum.
Balikwisha has been linked for a long time now, and it was reported Celtic and Royal Antwerp were in talks over a deal.
But those discussions have clearly stalled because there has been no real substantive reportage over the potential transfer since the early part of the summer.
Balikwisha is now reportedly interesting Southampton, who will play in the EFL Championship this season after relegation from the Premier League.
Breum is the other option. He plays for Go Ahead Eagles and Celtic have seen a number of bids rejected by the Dutch club for the player.
The Eagles want at least £5m for Breum, so it’s up to the Celtic hierarchy to decide whether that is justifiable or not.
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