Celtic’s pre-season is in full swing as they prepare for the upcoming Scottish Premiership campaign, with a significant amount of work still to be done.
While Euro 2024 and Copa America are currently capturing the football world’s attention, creating a sluggish summer transfer market, Celtic must push forward with their plans.
Brendan Rodgers successfully steered the team to the title last season, crowning it with a memorable Scottish Cup final victory over Rangers. Yet, there are several critical positions that need strengthening ahead of the new season, including finding a new first-choice goalkeeper and a reliable goalscorer.
With Joe Hart retiring, fans are eager to see who will be brought in to replace the former England international. The clock is ticking, with the new season set to kick off on August 4 against Kilmarnock.
One significant uncertainty is whether Adam Idah will return to the club. Sources have told HITC that an initial £4 million bid for the Norwich City striker has been rejected. The 23-year-old made a notable impact during a six-month loan at Parkhead, scoring key goals, including a crucial strike at Ibrox and the winner in the cup final.
Celtic supporters are hopeful that Idah can lead the attack next season. Simon Donnelly has expressed that securing Idah’s signature would be “a really good signing to start off the transfer window for Celtic,” as he told Clyde 1.
Donnelly remains optimistic that the deal will come through, stating, “The ball is in Norwich’s court, so to speak, because he is their player, and they have seen how well he did up here for Celtic.”
He continued, “What I will say is that the guy came up here and had a fantastic four or five months. Scored some really important goals. None more so than the winner in the Scottish Cup. But I thought his all-round play, and his use of the skills and being a popular guy in the dressing room. That would be a really good signing to start off the transfer window for Celtic.
“I think it will go through. I think Celtic want the boy enough and they see the value in getting that deal over the line, so I expect that deal to get over the line.”
Addressing the goalkeeping vacancy is equally crucial. Hart’s retirement leaves a significant gap, and Celtic have yet to identify a concrete replacement for their number one spot. One could argue that securing a reliable goalkeeper is even more critical than finding a new number nine.
Although Kyogo Furuhashi remains with the team, providing some stability up front, the need for a dependable goalkeeper is pressing. The pool of available goalkeepers appears to be more limited, and it is imperative that the club makes the right choice.
Some might suggest opting for a younger goalkeeper, but Hart was in his mid-30s when he joined Celtic, proving that age is not always a deciding factor. The club needs to ensure they find the right fit for this pivotal role.
As Celtic gear up for the new season, the pressure is on to fill these key positions. The fans are hopeful, the stakes are high, and the clock is ticking. With the right moves, Celtic can solidify their squad and mount a strong challenge in the forthcoming campaign.