Celtic have to start planning ahead for next season.
Yes, there are matters still to deal with in the hear and now, in terms of the title and Brendan Rodgers winning another Treble.
But it’s clear as day that it’s only a matter of time before Celtic are champions of Scotland again.
| Position | Team | Played MP | Won W | Drawn D | Lost L | For GF | Against GA | Diff GD | Points Pts |
| 1 |  CelticCeltic | 28 | 23 | 3 | 2 | 82 | 15 | 67 | 72 |
| 2 |  RangersRangers | 28 | 18 | 5 | 5 | 58 | 24 | 34 | 59 |
| 3 |  AberdeenAberdeen | 28 | 12 | 5 | 11 | 36 | 44 | -8 | 41 |
| 4 |  HibernianHibernian | 28 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 42 | 39 | 3 | 40 |
The main thing Celtic need to deal with is their Champions League qualifiers next season because the passage back into Europe’s elite competition isn’t going to be easy.
It means from the get-go, the big games are going to come and, after Celtic progressed in Europe this term, they don’t want to be missing out on it for the next campaign.
That means getting in players early in the summer!
After a pretty poor January transfer window, in terms of strengthening the squad, James McFadden feels there is a player starring Celtic in the face who they must sign for next season.
Celtic backed to sign Jeffrey Schlupp for next season
Jeffrey Schlupp was a deadline-day arrival, but he is only on loan from Crystal Palace until the end of the season.
Everyone is aware that Kieran Tierney will return to Celtic and Greg Taylor hasn’t yet signed a new contract with his deal set to expire in the summer.
So, that leaves the champions short in the left-back department and McFadden feels Schlupp is the guy to bring on board for next season.
The former midfielder admitted that it’s, ‘not the usual model’ for Celtic because he is 32.
But given that he is already in the building, the powers that be are getting to see what he is and isn’t capable of first-hand, as he told Sky Sports Football (25/02/25 at 7:30 pm).
“I think he has done well so far,” said McFadden about Schlupp’s start.
“It’s not the usual model (to sign players of Schlupp’s age), but I would imagine given that Kieran Tierney has signed a pre-contract, maybe that’s the first port of call, in terms of strengthening that area and bringing in a bit of competition for Greg Taylor.
“When that potential wasn’t possible, then Schlupp is an experienced player. Sometimes you need players that are ready to play. He certainly has been that. I thought he was excellent against Bayern Munich away. Defensively very good. He is known for being more attacking.
“I think you have to (sign him). You have got him there. He is playing games. You have to see what level he is at.
“Greg Taylor is out of contract in the summer. We don’t know what’s happening with that. Kieran Tierney is obviously going to come in. You can never not have enough good players. He has certainly shown that he is a very good player. I know he is 32. But I think he has shown that he is more than capable.”
What Schlupp won’t do ahead of the summer
Schlupp’s performance against Michael Olise – his old Palace teammate – in Munich was a sign of what he can produce.
And it needs to remembered, because he has hardly played this season, he isn’t even at his best, in terms of sharpness, so imagine what he would be like if he could get a pre-season under his belt.
Either way, McFadden feels you are going to hear very little from the player about what happens next season.
“He won’t speak about what he wants to do for next season, but certainly, the club will be looking at it thinking ‘this could be good business’,” added McFadden.
“He is there. You can watch him every day in training. What his character is like. You hear that all the time.”
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