James McFadden isn’t panicking about Celtic’s slow summer in the transfer market but the former Scotland international has warned the club are approaching dangerous territory if key areas aren’t addressed soon.
Brendan Rodgers’ squad has seen minimal movement in recent weeks, and with the new campaign kicking off this weekend, frustration among supporters continues to build. While the Hoops are expected to push through a loan deal for Manchester City defender Simpson-Pusey to bolster their defensive options, the glaring weakness remains on the wings.
Celtic have had three bids rejected for Jakob Breum, with the most recent offer still well short of Go Ahead Eagles’ £5 million asking price. Crucially, there are no other active winger targets currently being pursued, a concern given the lack of depth on the wings.
Speaking on Open Goal, Sky Sports pundit McFadden insisted he still expects business to be done but warned against the assumption that big-money signings guarantee success.
“They will sign players. I think they’ll sign good players,” said McFadden. “I think that it’s a dangerous situation because you spend £8m, £9m, £10m on a player — it doesn’t mean they’re good.
“Celtic over the last couple of years, their best player has been Matt O’Riley and he was signed for £1.5m. So, I get that. But it doesn’t guarantee that you’re going to get the right player. Kuhn — £2.5m. So you can get them.
“With Celtic, as long as you get the player you want — the player that can come in and affect the team — that’s what matters.”
Still, with time ticking down and major gaps still evident, McFadden’s optimism comes with a warning. Celtic can’t afford to drift through another window without addressing critical areas — no matter the price.
It’s become an all-too-familiar feeling for Celtic fans. Many thought after the quick start this summer, everything would fall into place, but as we enter August, we find ourselves in a situation where we can’t even allow Marco Tilio to leave, as he is needed as cover.
