Celtic Transfer News: The Trio Who Saved Celtic Are Being Torn Apart – Is There Actually A Plan?

Celtic transfer news is dominating the headlines as the three players who carried Martin O’Neill’s side over the line last season are now at the centre of major transfer speculation.

Daizen Maeda has already left for Ipswich. Arne Engels continues to be linked with Nottingham Forest, while Alistair Johnston is attracting interest from Everton.

Throw Reo Hatate and possibly Paulo Bernardo into that equation and Celtic could lose the spine that delivered the Premiership title and Scottish Cup just a few months ago.

Celtic transfer news as title heroes face uncertain futures

Maeda’s contribution to the run-in should never be forgotten.

For much of last season the Japanese forward was nowhere near his best. Goals dried up and confidence looked low.

Then, when Celtic needed him most, everything changed.

Maeda scored nine goals in his final seven matches. He found the net in every game as Celtic won all seven fixtures, secured the Premiership and completed the domestic double.

Johnston and Engels also returned from lengthy injury layoffs at exactly the right time.

Johnston came back after hamstring surgery and immediately restored stability to Celtic’s defence. He played every post-split league match as Celtic crossed the finish line.

Engels returned just before the split after two months out. He featured prominently throughout the decisive run-in and even scored in the final-day victory over Hearts.

Together, the three players became the driving force behind Celtic’s strongest spell of the campaign.

Celtic transfer news raises major questions for the board

Now one has gone.

Two more could soon follow.

Kasper Høgh and Camilo Durán have arrived and both could prove to be excellent signings.

However, the money spent bringing them to Celtic has effectively been offset by the sales of Maik Nawrocki, Luis Palma and Daizen Maeda.

From the outside looking in, Celtic have still not made a significant dent in the substantial transfer funds available to the club.

If Engels, Johnston, Hatate and possibly Bernardo also leave, those resources will only continue to grow.

The issue is not whether Celtic can afford replacements.

The issue is whether the board already has them identified and ready to arrive.

Mika Baur also looks close to joining, but one more signing will not be enough if several key players depart before the window closes.

There are now just 19 days until Celtic must register their squad for the UEFA Champions League play-off.

That deadline should already have shaped the club’s transfer strategy.

Elite clubs identify replacements before key players leave.

Too often Celtic appear to follow a different model.

Sell first.

Bank the money.

Then scramble around Europe trying to replace quality with the clock ticking.

Supporters are entitled to ask whether genuine succession planning is taking place behind the scenes.

Celtic transfer news over the next three weeks will determine whether this squad is ready to attack another Champions League campaign or whether another frantic late rebuild lies ahead.