As the January transfer window edges towards its conclusion, a palpable sense of disillusionment lingers among Celtic fans.

The club has been notably subdued in its winter dealings, much to the chagrin of its supporters.

At the heart of this discontent lies the club’s singular signing this window: Nicolas Kuhn. While Kuhn’s arrival might offer some quality on the wings, it’s a far cry from the 3-4 players that manager Brendan Rodgers had hoped to secure.

This gap between expectation and reality is a source of frustration for fans who anticipated a more aggressive approach in bolstering the squad.

Rodgers, during his Thursday press conference, conceded that the club was not close to announcing any new signings. His remarks about focusing on internal development and leveraging the club’s youth talent, while strategically sound, have done little to assuage the concerns of fans craving more immediate reinforcements. His emphasis on improvement from within and youth development, although admirable and desirable, seems like a fallback plan rather than a primary strategy.

Many are preparing for a last-minute loan deal or a promotion from the youth ranks – a far cry from the significant acquisitions they had hoped for. The lack of new signings is particularly stark when the biggest cause for celebration might be retaining Matt O’Riley, a terrific player, but holding onto existing talent is hardly a hallmark of a successful transfer window.

For a club of Celtic’s stature, the January window offers a vital opportunity to strengthen the team for the second half of the season. However, it seems to be a story of missed chances and unfulfilled expectations. While there’s always a chance of a last-minute surprise, the mood among the Celtic fans is one of disappointment – a feeling that the club hasn’t done enough to build confidence that this squad will march on and win the league convincingly.