Martin O’Neill has provided an update on Kelechi Iheanacho, Marcelo Saracchi, Camilo Duran, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain Johnny Kenny, Reo Hatate, the goalkeeping situation and the reasoning behind the delay to announcing Shaun Maloney and Mark Fotheringham.
The Celtic boss has revealed the club are working to re-sign free-agent striker Kelechi Iheanacho ahead of the new season.
The 29-year-old forward is available after his contract expired at the end of June, with Celtic keen to secure the return of the Nigerian following his influential spell last season.
Iheanacho produced a series of decisive goals as the Hoops clinched the league title and is currently training individually while assessing his next move.
The 74 year-old confirmed discussions are continuing with the player’s representatives and hopes an agreement can be reached before pre-season preparations progress further.
He said via Daily Record: “I’d like to do something with him.
“That’s the point. Of course, if we can do something relatively quickly, at least he then gets started in pre-season, which is really important for him.
“It’s something he didn’t have last year. After about three minutes, he was injured against Sturm Graz and he then hurt himself in the League Cup Final as well.
“So that would be nice. I’m definitely pursuing that at this minute.”
Elsewhere, Colombian winger Camilo Duran is edging closer to completing a £6 million switch from Qarabag after arriving in the United Kingdom for a medical. The 24-year-old is expected to complete a five-year contract within the next day.
Despite closing in on his first signing of the summer, O’Neill insists further attacking reinforcements remain a priority, with the Celtic boss targeting as many as three additional forwards.
He admitted: “Yes, that’s what I’d be hoping for.
“I think he can link play-up and things like this, but I think maybe we could do with somebody who can put the ball in the net.”
Striker Johnny Kenny travelled with the squad for the pre-season opener against Shelbourne but was not involved as he continues his recovery from a knee injury sustained after an impressive loan spell at Bolton.
Providing an update on the Republic of Ireland forward, O’Neill said:
“Johnny’s here at this minute.
“He’s got another three or four weeks before he’s fit. Like everything else, you’re waiting around for things to happen.
“I think Johnny did very, very well at Bolton. I think that Bolton were very impressed with him.
“I must admit, I will see when we get people into the football club, then we’ll have a wee look to see where we are.
“He looks as if he’s he’s got stronger looking as well too in his time away.”
While the search for more attacking quality continues, Celtic are also pursuing reinforcements at left-back.
The Scottish champions remain interested in bringing Marcelo Saracchi back to Glasgow after seeing another loan proposal rejected by Boca Juniors.
O’Neill confirmed negotiations remain active.
He said: “I’d like to take him back if it’s at all possible because if anything, I jokingly said I would give him a 25-year contract for making the goal (against Hearts).
“We have had conversations with his agent at this minute, so we’ll see where that goes.”
The manager also revealed Celtic are looking to recruit another goalkeeper following Kasper Schmeichel’s retirement, with Viljami Sinisalo and Ross Doohan currently the only senior options.
He added: “Because we’ve only got Sinisalo here at this minute and we’ve got Ross, we’re definitely looking for another goalkeeper.
“Whether it be a youngish fellow, same age as Sinisalo, or somebody a bit older, we’re definitely looking at it.”
Midfielder Reo Hatate was absent from the draw with Shelbourne after illness delayed his return to pre-season, although he is expected to join the squad during their training camp in Portugal.
O’Neill explained: “Reo came late to proceedings.
“I think he was a bit ill at the time, so he missed out about four or five days.
“He’s doing a little bit of work and he’s catching up with us in Portugal.”
Reflecting on his first few weeks since being appointed Celtic’s permanent manager, O’Neill admitted the pace of events has left little opportunity to savour the role.
“There’s been no time whatsoever to even enjoy that, absolutely none,” he said. “It’s just been on top of us almost immediately. I didn’t honestly think I’d be here.”
The Hoops boss also accepted responsibility for the delay in confirming his coaching staff, explaining the process was prolonged while he weighed up his options.
“All this thing about the backroom staff, that is totally down to me delaying, seriously,” O’Neill explained.
“It was my fault as much as anything else because there were roles going elsewhere.
“If a new manager were to step into the football club, obviously he’d want his own staff and things like that. It was me delaying to see whether I wanted to do it or not – that was one of the reasons.”
O’Neill also provided an update to why Celtic decided to sign Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
He said: “You can say all sorts of things, but I think the pre-season with us, rather than intermittently with Arsenal and sometimes with Arsenal’s youth team, will be good for him. He’s a very fine player.
“I think there’s more to come. It’s not as if he’s that old or anything. I think he’s loved it as well at the football club. Last season, he probably would have liked some more minutes in games, but some of his contributions were massive for us.
“Two in particular, I know that it got us points that otherwise we wouldn’t have got.”
Celtic have now travelled to Portugal for a week-long training camp, which will conclude with a friendly against Sporting CP at the Estadio Algarve next Tuesday.
Expected new arrival Camilo Duran is due to link up with the squad alongside Oxlade-Chamberlain, while negotiations continue over moves for both Iheanacho and Saracchi ahead of the new campaign.
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