Celtic are the only remaining Scottish Premiership club without a signing this summer.
That’s after Motherwell announced the arrival of Martin Moorman on Friday, their first signing since the arrival of new boss Alfred Johansson.
Parkhead chairman Brian Wilson promised a “busy summer” in terms of transfer business, but as of July 3rd, no signings have been announced, and nothing appears imminent.
It has been 41 days since the end of the season, and Martin O’Neill and his players are now a week into pre-season training.
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Hearts, for comparison, have made eight signings so far, whilst Rangers have made five. Both clubs changed managers this summer.
This time last summer, Celtic had already added Kieran Tierney, Benjamin Nygren and Callum Osmand.
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That window didn’t end particularly well. If fans were hoping for things to be done differently with O’Neill as manager, they’ll have been disappointed so far.
Despite reports of an ‘overhaul’ to the club’s footballing structure this summer, no improvements to the club’s recruitment team have been forthcoming.
Shaun Maloney was interviewed for the role of Head of Football Operations, but remained as O’Neill’s assistant after prolonged negotiations.
That role remains vacant as the aforementioned “busy summer” beckons. As of yet, the 74-year-old hasn’t been offered much help.
Camilo Duran is the latest man to be linked, with Celtic reportedly sending offers. Goalkeepers such as Dinko Horkas have also been linked.
Key players Arne Engels and Daizen Maeda are both expected to leave in the coming weeks, and neither will easily be replaced.
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Martin O’Neill on Celtic’s recruitment ahead of the Champions League
Speaking to Track Radio last month, O’Neill said of the important of recruitment before the play-off: “Absolutely, [recruitment is going to be key]. You’ve nailed it. It’s exactly right.
“We get a two-legged qualification game towards the end of August time.
We will have started a season, we will be into it by a couple of matches. But the teams that we are likely to face will have had summer times and games in front of us.
“I even felt this going away back 20-odd years ago, when I was in charge at Celtic:
“The teams that you felt you could definitely beat in, let’s say, early November, you would find really difficult to beat in, let’s say, the second or third week in August, because of the match advantages that they would have over you.
“So yeah, it’s fraught with difficulty in that sense. Celtic failed last year to make it [against Kairat], probably in two games where they would’ve been expecting to go through.
“So I will be concerned, but as you say, excited at the same time that there’s an opportunity for that.”
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