Celtic Could Bring in Eight Players if Champions League Qualification Is Secured

Celtic could be about to have one of the busiest ends to a transfer window in recent memory.

Qualification for the Champions League changes everything.

The finances change.

The demands change.

And suddenly, positions that might have been acceptable for domestic football become areas that need strengthening.

If Celtic get through, I wouldn’t be surprised to see as many as nine players arrive before the window closes.

Not nine panic buys.

Nine additions designed to give Martin O’Neill the depth required to compete on multiple fronts.

Balázs Tóth – A New Number One

Goalkeeper has been an obvious area for improvement.

Balázs Tóth is the name Celtic have been closing in on, and he could provide genuine competition between the sticks.

Celtic need a goalkeeper who can come into the team and make the position his own.

Emenalo – Loan Option

Left-back is another position where Celtic need cover.

Kieran Tierney cannot be expected to play every game, particularly with Champions League football added to the schedule.

A loan move for Emenalo would provide another option without Celtic having to make a huge permanent commitment.

Another Centre-Back

This one is simple.

Cameron Carter-Vickers, Auston Trusty and Liam Scales are the senior options,  Dane Murray is developing.

But another quality right footed centre-back would be needed. I’d ideally want a Scandinavian one as they always seem to do the job for us. 

A quality centre-back on loan could give O’Neill another experienced option without blocking Murray’s pathway permanently.

Yukinari Sugawara – Right-Back

Alistair Johnston’s injury has changed the situation completely.

Colby Donovan has done brilliantly, but Celtic shouldn’t put the responsibility for an entire position on a youngster.

Sugawara would provide Premier League and European experience while giving O’Neill another attacking full-back.

When Johnston returns, Celtic would suddenly have genuine competition.

That’s exactly what we need.

Ermin Mahmic

Mahmic would be one of the most exciting additions.

Young, technically gifted and already making his mark internationally, he fits the type of player Celtic should be targeting.

More importantly, he would give O’Neill another creative option in midfield.

Niko Sigur

Then we have Sigur.

This is the sort of signing that makes sense when you look at Celtic’s midfield.

Callum McGregor cannot play every minute of a Champions League campaign.

Sigur would give Celtic more energy and defensive security in the middle of the pitch.

Gvidas Gineitis

And then there is Gineitis.

If Celtic could get Gineitis through the door, the midfield would have secured the Engels replacement. 

Gineitis gives us physicality, energy and another player capable of covering huge amounts of ground.

A Left Winger

The ninth addition should be another winger.

Jota’s return is massive, but he’s still not fully fit and Celtic shouldn’t be relying on him immediately.

Yang and Sebastian Tounekti provide options, but with Champions League football coming up, I would still like another natural left winger.

Yang is also leaving for the Asian cup games. 

Someone who can come in immediately and compete for the position is needed. 

Who Leaves?

Of course, bringing in nine players means there has to be movement in the other direction.

It is expected that Johnny Kenny, Anthony Ralston, Balikwisha and Kenny to leave. 

That would free up squad places, wages and opportunities for the incoming players.

Hatate’s departure would obviously be the biggest one.

But if O’Neill believes the midfield needs rebuilding, this could be the opportunity to do it properly.

Champions League Qualification Changes the Game

This is why getting through isn’t just about having another few nights of European football.

It could completely change Celtic’s transfer strategy.

Without Champions League qualification, you can understand Celtic being cautious.

With it?

There is no excuse.

The money is there.

The prestige is there.

And the demands are there.

Celtic need to build a squad capable of handling the Champions League while maintaining domestic dominance.

Tóth.

Emenalo.

A centre-back.

Sugawara.

Mahmic.

Sigur.

Gineitis.

A left winger.

Eight players.

It sounds excessive.

But when you consider the players leaving and the number of matches Celtic could play this season, it actually starts to make a lot of sense.

We have spent much of the summer talking about Celtic needing a quantity of quality.

Champions League qualification could finally give Martin O’Neill the opportunity to deliver exactly that.