O'Neill targets new faces for Celtic
Martin O'Neill confirmed Celtic are trying to make changes to the squad ahead of the new season, despite difficulties in signing new players.
O'Neill targets new faces for Celtic
According to Sports.
Context
Celtic is looking to improve the squad after not being able to retain Kelechi Iheanacho, a player who is expected to continue contributing to the team. Coach O'Neill is aiming to add more players to ensure Celtic's strength in the Premiership race, especially when they are facing criticism from fans.
Why this is important
Celtic, a top Premiership club, is facing pressure from fans to improve their squad before the new season. The inability to retain Kelechi Iheanacho and Marcelo Saracchi has made many people concerned about the team's ability to compete next season. The transfer shortage can affect the morale of the players and the number of spectators at the stadium.
Main point
- O'Neill targets new faces for Celtic.
- Martin O'Neill confirmed that Celtic are trying to make changes in the squad ahead of the new season, despite difficulties in signing new players.
- O'Neill eyes 'couple of new faces' for Celtic - Yahoo Sports.
Coach Martin O'Neill has confirmed that Celtic are "making progress" in adding new players to their squad. He shared about the difficulties in re-signing Kelechi Iheanacho and Marcelo Saracchi, two names that were expected to return to the team.
Celtic, the Scottish championship team, is facing criticism from its own fans over the lack of transfer activity this summer. Some believe this led to a drop in attendance at their pre-season friendly, which saw them draw 1-1 with Middlesbrough. In this match, Camilo Duran, a striker newly brought in from Qarabag, scored the equalizer for Celtic after David Strelec, a player formerly affiliated with the Glasgow club, opened the scoring for the away team.
Duran is the only addition to the team in this summer transfer window. Still, O'Neill remains optimistic: "We will strengthen the squad. We are making progress. Hopefully there will be some new faces before the season starts." However, the Northern Irish coach did not promise anything when it came to Iheanacho's case. Celtic wanted to keep hold of the Nigerian striker after his one-year contract ended, but he signed for newly promoted Bursaspor in Türkiye's second division.
"We thought we had reached an agreement with Iheanacho, but in the end that didn't happen," O'Neill added. "That's something we think has been resolved." Celtic's CEO, Michael Nicholson, also admitted that adding new players is difficult due to competing with big clubs in England's top two divisions. It was reported that Bursaspor had offered Iheanacho a higher salary, but O'Neill said: "There are two sides to every deal, as there are to every story. I thought we had an agreement with him at the time, but it turned out that wasn't the case and he left."
O'Neill also hopes to keep Saracchi after the 28-year-old left-back ends his loan contract from Boca Juniors. Saracchi shared on Instagram that he and his representatives "did everything in our power to return to Glasgow". However, O'Neill said: "Saracchi has made a very good contribution to the club and there are circumstances where it looks like that will never happen."
Celtic will kick off the new season with a home Premiership match against Dundee on August 3.
What happens next
Martin O'Neill has insisted that Celtic are working to strengthen their squad with new faces before the season starts. Although Camilo Duran is the only addition from Qarabag, O'Neill is still optimistic about the possibility of adding new players. Improving the squad will be a decisive factor for the upcoming season and affect Celtic's performance in the Premiership.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did Celtic draw with Middlesbrough?
Celtic drew 1-1 with Middlesbrough in a pre-season friendly.
Who scored for Celtic in the match against Middlesbrough?
Camilo Duran scored the equalizer for Celtic.
Does the match between Celtic and Middlesbrough have any impact on the rankings?
This match is a friendly match and does not affect the official rankings.
Do Celtic have plans to add any players?
Celtic is planning to add new players before the season starts.
Which team did Kelechi Iheanacho sign with?
Kelechi Iheanacho has signed a contract with Bursaspor.
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