There is that worrying feeling that history might repeat itself at Celtic this summer.
Right now, things haven’t started the way Celtic fans would have liked. Whether that’s from how Martin O’Neill has been re-appointed or how things have begun following the opening of the 2026 summer transfer window on Monday.
While many of the Celtic Park faithful are doubtful and fear the worst about what the board will or won’t muster this term, Peter Grant is pretty hopeful.
Speaking on Go Radio, Grant thinks there won’t be a Brendan Rodgers repeat this summer because O’Neill won’t allow what Celtic’s former boss allowed last summer.
“I don’t think Martin will allow what Brendan allowed last year,” said Grant.
“I don’t think Martin will allow the sales before there are other guys coming in. I don’t see that happening.”
What would be your one message to Martin O’Neill about Celtic’s upcoming transfer window?
Will the Celtic board change their ways this summer under Martin O’Neill?
One of the big instances of Celtic failing Rodgers last summer was selling Adam Idah to Swansea City for big bucks, and then bringing in Kelechi Iheanacho on a free transfer once the window had slammed shut.
Not only that, you had the instance of little work being done before those crucial Champions League qualifiers, and then disaster and reality hit against Kairat Almaty.
However, Grant believes that the Celtic board’s historically frustrating habits will not resurface under O’Neill, arguing that the manager wouldn’t have accepted the role for next season if that were the case.
“I don’t think Martin would have taken it unless there were guarantees,” said Grant. “Martin is a wild old fox. He knows everything.
“There will be things he won’t be happy with, and you can’t get everything you are looking for. But I am sure he will get 90% or 95% of the things he is looking for. I don’t think Martin would have stood in that dugout one more time if he didn’t feel that.
“He knows that the team is well short of the levels he is expecting from Celtic. He knows there will be a lot of changes.
“I don’t think Martin will allow what Brendan allowed last year. I don’t think Martin will allow the sales before there are other guys coming in. I don’t see that happening.”
A leopard doesn’t change its spots…
You are already getting early signs that the Celtic board won’t change their ways, despite Grant feeling otherwise.
The noise around Celtic’s backroom staff is a prime example, and with players due back in pre-season on June 26, as of this moment, there will be no new players in the building.
Added to that, the futures of many key players need to be sorted. Reo Hatate wants to leave, big money could be put on the table for Arne Engels, and you can’t see Daizen Maeda staying either.
Ultimately, everything points toward a single conclusion: the Celtic board is holding fire until the outcome of the Champions League qualifiers truly dictates their approach to the market.
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