Hold onto your seats, Celtic fans, because the transfer window drama is far from over! Martin O'Neill, the club's interim manager, has dropped a bombshell: two new signings are on the verge of joining the squad, with medicals already underway. But here's where it gets even more intriguing—O'Neill hinted that these might not be the only additions, as the club is eyeing further deals to bolster their ranks. This comes hot on the heels of Celtic's 2-0 victory over Falkirk, propelling them above Rangers into second place in the Scottish Premiership. Yet, despite this win, they still trail leaders Hearts by six points, leaving fans and pundits alike wondering: Can these new signings be the game-changers Celtic desperately needs?
The winter transfer window has already seen Celtic secure Julian Araujo and Tomas Cvancara on loan from Bournemouth and Borussia Monchengladbach, respectively. However, supporters have been vocal about what they perceive as a lack of investment this season, and last summer's recruitment has been, at best, hit and miss. Benjamin Nygren has been a bright spot, leading the scoring charts with 15 goals, but other signings like Michel-Ange Balikwisha and Sebastian Tounekti haven't quite lived up to expectations. Free signing Kelechi Iheanacho has struggled with both form and fitness, and while Kieran Tierney has shown glimpses of his old self, he’s not the player who left for Arsenal in 2019.
And this is the part most people miss: the pressure is mounting on Celtic to close these deals before the transfer window slams shut on Monday night at 23:00 GMT. Former Celtic goalkeeper Pat Bonner expressed relief at the news but couldn’t hide his frustration over the prolonged process. “Once you're at the medical stage, the deal is done,” he remarked on Sportsound. “It's dragged on and dragged on. They have got to learn from that in the future.”
O'Neill was coy when pressed about Lorient’s Norwegian forward Joel Mvuka and Freiburg’s Austrian striker Junior Adamu, who have been linked with moves to Celtic. While he didn’t confirm their identities, he hinted strongly, telling BBC Scotland: “You would be pretty well close.” But here’s the controversial question: Are these signings enough to bridge the gap with Hearts, or is Celtic simply papering over deeper cracks in their squad?
Cvancara, Celtic’s most recent addition, has already made waves, assisting Yang Hyun-jun in his debut against Hearts and scoring a stunning header against Falkirk. The Czech Republic international dominated the Falkirk box with more touches than any other Celtic player, and O'Neill is confident there’s much more to come. “He’s wanting to prove himself, and I think there’s a player there,” O'Neill said. Yet, he acknowledged that parts of Cvancara’s game need refinement, especially given his lack of recent match time.
As the clock ticks down to Monday’s deadline, the big question remains: Will Celtic get these deals over the line in time, and more importantly, will it be enough to challenge for silverware? O'Neill believes the squad needs strengthening, but only time will tell if these moves will pay off. What do you think, Celtic fans? Are these signings the missing pieces of the puzzle, or is the club still falling short? Let’s hear your thoughts in the comments!
