Roger Hannah believes Celtic’s transfer business is only just beginning and expects the club to be among the busiest sides in the closing five weeks of the summer window.
With the competitive campaign now just days away, Martin O’Neill has so far welcomed only two new arrivals, leaving sections of the support frustrated after anticipating a far more extensive rebuild.
Despite those concerns, Hannah remains convinced that significant changes are still to come, suggesting both arrivals and departures will gather pace before the deadline.
The Scottish Sun journalist also floated the possibility of Alistair Johnston departing, with former Celtic loanee Julian Araujo mentioned as a potential replacement.
Speaking on Clyde Superscoreboard, he said: “For me, there’s parallels between this summer and the Ange pre-season.
“He came in, there was a bit of scepticism pre-season… I remember West Ham coming to Celtic Park and winning 6-2, and there was a lot of worry.
“There were a lot of deals done late on. There were outgoings – Ryan Christie went on to Bournemouth, Odsonne Edouard went on to Crystal Palace… there were guys that came in late on.
“I think there’s going to be a lot of activity between now and the third of September at Celtic.
“There will be outgoings. It would not at all surprise me if Arne Engels, Reo Hatate and Alistair Johnston all follow Daizen Maeda out the door.
“It would not surprise me at all. And the key, then, is to make sure that Mika Baur comes in to replace Engels. Maybe Julian Araujo comes back to replace Alistair Johnston. They get somebody in to replace Reo Hatate in the middle of the park.
“I think there’s a lot of work being done by Mark Cooper and that Celtic recruitment team. I think there will be a lot of activity in the last five weeks of the window.”
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1 Comment
Another scaremonger?
Could it be a case of ourselves having no intentions of selling AJ?
Same might even apply for Engels also, like last January?
Somehow still think Hatate will be allowed to leave, and that Baur is being considered as his replacement at present imo?
I don’t see a squad place available for Kenny or balikwisha whatsoever, so expected for them to be playing elsewhere next season.
Still one of the biggest decisions facing MoN, is whether he opts for going with 5 CB within his 25man European squad?
Even more relevant, with CCV and Murray tending to be as injury prone as they are?
CCV still looks like a player that would struggle with the 3 games in a week schedule at present? And losing that yard of pace with his injury, must also be a concern for MoN?
So do believe that a CB loan signing will be made eventually, but would they be included within our finalised 25man European squad?
Personally think that MoN, wouldn’t like to have to do so, as it would mean that either a midfielder or more likely an attacking option, has to be dropped from the squad, in order to make such a place become available? Or even going with 2 keepers, and keeping Doohan as the 2nd choice keeper?
Still think MoN would like a
3 keepers
8 defenders
6 midfielders
8 attackers
With Donovan, Hatton and Mcardle as 3 B listed players imo?
Even at that, there is still work to be done, and subjected to change, especially as we don’t know what MoN plans are for forming the overall squad?
Incoming players, would certainly won’t to be included within our 25man squad, especially as that is where bonus payments for themselves would occur upon a bigger scale, especially with CL?
What we don’t know, is if any current players under contract, have a similar contract already in place?
That would really mess up our plans, especially as I still suspect that kasper had such a contract in place for the no1 keeper position imo?
There are way to many unknown factors involved regarding players contracts?
But the prospect of European football has to be taken into consideration also, especially as it’s a far bigger incentive for Incoming players, that the prospect of SPFL football on offer?
So plenty for MoN to still consider, within his decision making process at present?
No matter what amount of moaning is done regarding our squad building process at present imo?