Celtic Could End Up On Another Loan Scramble For The Rest Of This Window – We Cannot Accept This

What happens during the remaining days of Celtic’s transfer window might tell supporters everything they need to know.

Before the Champions League disaster against LASK, optimism was finally beginning to grow.

Gvidas Gineitis.

Ermin Mahmić.

Niko Sigur.

Serious money was being discussed and, for once, Celtic appeared to be targeting players capable of immediately improving the first team.

Following elimination, the mood couldn’t be more different.

Sigur is already heading elsewhere apparently, while doubts now surround whether Celtic will pursue some of the more expensive targets previously linked with the club.

During Wednesday night’s Bhoycie Bus, Joe McHugh of Video Celts offered a grim prediction.

“We’ll revert back to three or four million pound maximum signings. It will be more of the projects rather than the ready-made players.”

I desperately hope he’s wrong.

Because if Celtic’s transfer strategy suddenly changes from permanent, first-team quality to temporary loans, supporters are entitled to ask a very obvious question.

Why did losing to LASK change what the squad needs?

The weaknesses haven’t disappeared.

Champions League elimination doesn’t suddenly make Celtic’s midfield stronger.

It doesn’t provide Kieran Tierney with reliable cover.

It doesn’t solve the issues at right-back.

Nor does it strengthen the goalkeeper position or magically add depth elsewhere.

Every weakness identified before Tuesday still exists today.

Only the projected income has changed.

That’s particularly difficult to stomach after reports that Celtic were preparing significant investment had Champions League qualification been secured.

Essentially, Celtic risk creating the ultimate catch-22.

Qualify and we’ll buy the players required for the Champions League.

Fail to qualify because the squad wasn’t strong enough and those players are no longer required.

How does that make any sense?

Eric of Read Celtic was similarly pessimistic when discussing what might happen next.

Asked whether Celtic could now turn towards several temporary additions, he suggested Chelsea youngster Landon Emenalo could represent the type of move we increasingly see.

His comparison was telling.

“It’s like Alex Valle a couple of years ago — that type of level signing.”

Loans aren’t automatically bad business.

A good loan can transform a team.

My concern is when temporary signings become substitutes for genuine squad building.

Celtic already know where improvement is required.

Recruitment staff have apparently spent weeks identifying permanent targets.

Throwing that work away because Champions League revenue wasn’t secured would suggest Celtic’s ambition is dictated almost entirely by guaranteed income rather than the resources already available.

Could Celtic even sell again within this window?

Perhaps the most alarming part of Wednesday’s discussion concerned outgoing business.

Eric believes another substantial offer for one of Celtic’s remaining assets could still tempt the club into selling before the deadline.

Benjamin Nygren was specifically mentioned during the conversation.

Nobody is suggesting an offer currently exists.

However, Celtic’s history makes the fear understandable.

Supporters remember Moussa Dembélé departing shortly after the 2018 Champions League elimination against AEK Athens.

European failure should never become an excuse to weaken the football operation further.

Quite the opposite.

Martin O’Neill indicated before the LASK game that the result shouldn’t dramatically alter Celtic’s recruitment intentions.

Those words matter now.

If permanent targets suddenly become loans and established players become projects, someone should ask why.

Joe summed up the contradiction perfectly on The Bhoycie Bus.

Celtic regularly talk about finishing transfer windows stronger than they started.

Well, Celtic began this window with Champions League football available to them.

They’re going to finish it without it.

Recruitment over the next few days therefore has to demonstrate something.

Were Gineitis, Mahmić and the other ambitious targets part of a genuine attempt to improve Celtic?

Or were they conditional promises dependent on banking another UEFA cheque first?

Supporters are about to find out.

Keep Your Eyes On The Board.