Martin O’Neill has come back to Celtic at just the right time:
The January transfer window. Everyone’s favourite time of year.
After a disastrous summer transfer window, which had ramifications on and off the pitch, Celtic are now focused on equipping O’Neill’s squad for a title race.
Deals for both Kyogo Furuhashi and Jocelin Ta Bi are dead in the water after promising reports regarding both. Now, Celtic are still awaiting their first attacking reinforcement of the window.
O’Neill has been updating the media ahead of his and the team’s trip to Falkirk on Wednesday.
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Martin O’Neill’s Celtic transfer update
Julian Araujo is still Celtic’s only winter reinforcement so far, being signed under the watch of Wilfried Nancy.
Given Celtic’s reversion to a back four since Nancy’s sacking, different players are now likely being targeted.
READ MORE: Incredible details of Jocelin Ta Bi’s collapsed Celtic move surface as Sunderland close in
O’Neill has all but said this at his presser, admitting that he has ‘discarded’ some transfer targets and joking that he is to blame for the hold-up.
He said: “I’d love to blame all the people, but it’s down to me.
“Nothing has changed, really. Even when I’ve been out of the game: the January transfer window is pretty difficult.
“Because unless you’ve identified a player that you absolutely know is going to improve your team, and that you’re prepared to spend the money on them, I think it becomes more difficult.
“I think I might’ve said to you a couple of weeks ago that the new manager would’ve wanted to have the January transfer window so that he could identify players for his particular system.
“Now, we are genuinely working really hard in the background. So there’s no impediment in that sense. It’s just about trying to get some people in that we think can help us now, at least until the end of the season.
“Essentially, it’s true [that I’m being presented players to make a judgement on]. I have discarded some. That is true.
“I know it’s famous last words, but we are making progress – or we think we are. But you’re talking about agreements with clubs… if that’s the case, number one, agreements with players themselves…
“And then a player finding out that there’s interest elsewhere, so you’re always competing. All these things come into consideration, which is no surprise to me.
“And I know you’re thinking. ‘We’re halfway through January now.’ But I think that we’re relatively close… those are famous last words.”
Would you sign a goalkeeper for Celtic in January?
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