Celtic’s priorities for the January transfer window have been pretty clear all month.
Martin O’Neill’s wait for a striker lasted 20 days, until Tomas Cvancara was finally brought in on loan from Borussia Monchengladbach.
Celtic remain in the hunt for another forward. Right wing is also a priority, as well as centre-half, where options are getting thin.
There have also been claims that Celtic want a midfielder. Another position, however, has now been named as a priority in a report.
And it concerns Kasper Schmeichel, whose contract expires at the end of the season.
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Martin O’Neill ‘desperate’ for a goalkeeper at Celtic
Schmeichel’s form had received some criticism this season, with some Celtic fans even calling for him to be dropped.
However, in away league matches against Falkirk and Hearts since O’Neill’s return, Schmeichel has won the Hoops points with his saves.
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This makes it unlikely, in theory, that a stopper will be added this month – especially given the presence of Vijlami Sinisalo on the Celtic bench.
But the Daily Record’s Scott Burns reports that O’Neill is ‘desperate’ to add a goalkeeper, along with a centre-back and forward player.
That forward player could well be Fares Ghedjima, for whom the Celts are reportedly edging closer to an agreement.
Born in France with Algerian citizenship, Ghedjima is a left-footed right-winger of the same ilk as Nicolas Kuhn.
Reports also have Celtic in the race for Damir Redzic of FC DAC, but they face competition from Red Bull Salzburg for the Hungarian’s signature.
Reports have gone quiet on the defensive side, after Aurele Amenda and Jamie Lawrence were doing the rounds last week.
The transfer window will slam shut, as they say, at 11PM on Monday in Scotland, four hours later than it shuts in England.
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Martin O’Neill’s latest Celtic transfer update
O’Neill gave his most recent transfer update after the Hoops’ 4-2 win over Utrecht on Thursday, saying: “Yeah, we’re making progress.
“I think we can move it along now in the next couple of days. I’m very confident that we’ll get some recruits in.
“I don’t know (what progress would look like). Like anything else, you’re trying to look for a bit of quality that would, first of all, supplement the squad, and two, improve it.
“That’s the case, and that’s what we’re hoping to try and do. But it’s not been easy – not just for us, but for other clubs. Perhaps the Celtic fans think it’s always us!
“I’ve had transfer windows in the past myself – not at Celtic, necessarily – when you’re twiddling your fingers and letting the day go past.
“So we’re trying to do some work and we think we can do it. You keep questioning me on guarantees, promises and all that stuff… I can’t guarantee anything. I don’t think any of us can do in the game.
“But we’re very, very hopeful.”
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