Chris Sutton thinks that Celtic will need to spend over £50 million to give Martin O’Neill what he needs.
It’s quite the figure, but given the players expected to leave this summer, it’s well within Celtic’s reach.
Since O’Neill’s permanent arrival was confirmed, Dermot Demond has pledged to back him with what he needs to achieve both domestic and European objectives.
What will this look like, exactly? Time will tell.
👀 A reasonable figure?
Chris Sutton: Celtic will struggle if they don’t get players in
Sutton said on Sky Sports: “Martin worked wonders last season. I didn’t see Celtic winning the title from the position which he was put in on a couple of occasions.
“The run towards the end of the season was extraordinary, and the momentum they got under him.
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“Now he’s got the job permanently — but I still think you can’t get away from the fact there needs to be a lot of change at Celtic, in terms of recruitment.
“They’ve got the Champions League qualifier, which is really important — however exciting it was for Celtic fans to end up getting over the line last season, you can’t get away from the fact that Celtic struggled at times throughout the season.
“Martin will be looking to, I’m sure, bring players in. It’ll be interesting to see who goes out from Celtic. It looks like Reo Hatate will go, possibly Daizen Maeda, Arne Engels… they’re big players for the team.
“So, who are Celtic going to replace those type of players with? I think that Celtic are possibly going to have to spend up to, or more than, £50 million — because the squad does need a rebuild.”
“It’s absolutely massive. The squad looked tired last season at times.
“The question is: is the squad from last season — good enough to win the Scottish Premiership this season — good enough to challenge in Europe?
“I think it would be a struggle again this season if Celtic don’t bring players in. Everybody can see what needs to happen.”
Celtic’s dreadful summer recruitment last year
The club’s summer business last year was so poor that it eventually led to the departure of Brendan Rodgers.
Rodgers described Hayato Inamura and Shin Yamada as ‘club signings’, though the suggestion that the pair were signed without the endorsement of the manager was strongly refuted by Dermot Desmond.
Jahmai Simpson-Pusey made just one Celtic appearance after joining on loan from Manchester City. He has just moved to FC Koln for £5 million.
The worst of the lot was probably Michel-Ange Balikwisha, who cost £4.5 million but started just three games all season.
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