Celtic face big transfer test as there's 2 things they cannot do in second half of the season - Chris Sutton
Celtic will face the ultimate challenge in the Champions League against Bayern Munich – especially with the serious possibility of going there with no away fans.
But there’s just as big a test for recruitment chief Paul Tisdale and his team in the last few days and hours of the transfer window. Look, Celtic are in a great position right now. They have a commanding lead in the league and achieved their target of getting out of the Champions League league phase. It’s been a superb season – so far.
Yet right now the squad looks a little thin and they must strengthen before the window shuts on Monday. Celtic cannot see out the second half of the season with just one recognisable striker and just a left back who is out of contract in the summer. I know they are miles ahead, but they must not take the Premiership title for granted.
READ MORE: The transfer window champions are crowned as Jury sends Celtic back to the future
And they should not just put up the white flag in the Champions League – even if Bayern are a fairly daunting task. Signing Jota for around £6m looks a stunning piece of business but he’ll need time to get up to speed again after 18 months of struggling for game time. And there are other parts of the squad that need addressing. None more so than up front.
I am still struggling to get my head around the decision to sell Kyogo at this stage. In fact, I can’t remember many occasions when Celtic – or Rangers for that matter – have sold such a key part of their side in the middle of a season. You can go back to the likes of Josip Juranovic, but they already had Alistair Johnston in the door when he departed.
Kyogo was allowed to go before any replacement was secured – and now the board and recruitment team simply have to deliver. There’s been a lot of noise around Mathias Kvistgaarden and it does look like he’d fit the bill. But it’s a bit like Celtic and Kyogo, the other club has to be willing to sell. Kvistgaarden won’t come cheap either. It will be interesting to see how Celtic play it.
Is Adam Idah going to be the main striker, with a new signing coming in to support him? Or will Brendan Rodgers want to go big and bring in someone he feels will lead the line?
It’s a big question. Idah’s goals against Aston Villa will have done his confidence the world of good. He’s not exactly hit the heights of last season this term though and will Rodgers be able to hang his hat on him for the rest of the campaign?
It remains to be seen. There’s youngster Daniel Cummings as well, after he got a taste of the first team at Villa Park. Rodgers also sent on Dane Murray and it looked to me like he was sending one of his subtle messages to the board again that he still needs a bit of help. I know that there’s been interest in Cummings too, so it might not have been a bad idea to let him feel part of his plans for the future.
Regardless, another striker is essential. A left back is also on the wish list if Arsenal are going to dig their heels in over Kieran Tierney. I wouldn’t give up hope on that one still happening in January as a lot can change in the final days of the window. There’s a lot of work to be done with that move but Celtic can’t hang about. They are a Grey Taylor hamstring strain away from having a major problem at left back.
I don’t doubt for a minute Taylor will continue to give his all, but it’s only human nature to have half an eye on the future with his contract running down. It might even be a subconscious thing, but it’s a major risk being left with that situation. Contrary to what some fans think, the league is NOT done yet. Rangers, to their credit, have managed to reach the Europa League last 16 and are capable of finding some form in Scotland.
Celtic can’t take any chances. The Scottish Cup is up for grabs as well, and that’s even before we get to the Champions League.
There were some positives to take from the Aston Villa display – as well as some warnings. Villa are a very good side and it was tough at times. But Celtic refused to buckle and they made a game of it, even if the result could have run away from them at times.
I do think there is an issue with fatigue with some of the players after a pretty intense run of games. That’s where new signings come in as well, as it would bring the freshness needed for the run in. I also wouldn’t just be assuming Celtic’s Champions League work is done by reaching the play-off round.
Of course Bayern Munich will be formidable. They lost a couple of group games to the likes of Barcelona and Villa, but we saw what they did to Dinamo Zagreb earlier in the competition when they stuck nine past them. Bayern will feel the competition starts for real now and they will have their usual designs on winning it.
Celtic can’t just think it’s about turning up and taking the money. Yes, it will be a big ask, but it was a big ask putting Barcelona out of the UEFA Cup all those years ago. It was a big ask beating them again in the Champions League, or getting the better of Juventus. Manchester United and the rest.
I get the game has changed and the gulf between the super rich and the rest has got wider. That doesn’t mean Celtic shouldn’t aim high and have a go – and the same thing applies to the final days of the transfer window.
