Four consecutive wins, including a derby victory over title rivals Rangers, sent Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic bounding into the winter break on a high.
But, despite the eight-point lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership, the threat from an Ibrox side improving rapidly since Philippe Clement became manager is unlikely to be going away any time soon. Especially as Rangers have two games in hand.
So you can guarantee those victories will not have altered Rodgers’ view that he needs to strengthen his squad with “one or two” key signings during January in what could be the most crucial transfer window of his two spells as Celtic boss.
Seeking a better transfer window
Previously under Rodgers, he would take his players to Dubai for the winter hiatus. Not this time. While Rangers head to the relative warmth of La Manga, it’s the cold reality of their Lennoxtown training centre for the reigning champions.
Which suggests the Northern Irishman wants to be at the heart of any transfer business being done.
Improving the strike rate of success in the transfer market will be his first objective given his own admission that the squad is weaker than the one that won the title under Ange Postecoglou last season.
Winger Luis Palma and on-loan Benfica midfielder Paulo Bernardo have started to blossom, but Celtic’s other seven summer signings have yet to prove their worth.
All are in their early 20s and have time on their hands, but Rodgers is on record as suggesting any additions must add immediate quality to his first team – no “projects” this time round.
Where might Celtic strengthen?
A new goalkeeper might seem like less of a priority given the presence of former England number one Joe Hart.
However, the 36-year-old is in his twilight years, will be out of contract this summer and has come under some scrutiny in recent months – particularly at Champions League level.
Since signing in summer 2022, Alexandro Bernabei has not proven to be the competition Celtic desired at left-back for Scotland international Greg Taylor.
Little wonder that Celtic, along with Rangers, were being linked this week with a failed bid for Owen Beck, the 21-year-old who has been recalled by Liverpool after impressing on loan to Dundee.
Nat Phillips, whose loan ended on 3 January, also looks to have headed back to Anfield, with the 26-year-old centre-half having not even featured on the bench for the past six games after making only four starts.
With fellow summer arrivals Maik Nawrocki and Gustaf Lagerbielke – and Yuki Kobayashi – having struggled for game time and Stephen Welsh picking up an injury against Rangers, Rodgers may still want cover at centre-back.
Which could explain why a report this week suggested Celtic are keeping an eye on Scott McKenna’s situation with Nottingham Forest, where the Scotland international is out of contract this summer and currently out of the first-team squad.
Qatar factor
The Asian Cup will also enter Rodgers’ calculations given he is potentially without five players until 11 February depending on how far teams progress.
Celtic’s remaining squad will surely still be strong enough to dismiss Highland League visitors Buckie Thistle in the Scottish Cup and take care of struggling Ross County at home in the league, but there are tricky away trips to Aberdeen and Hibernian thereafter.
With Daizen Maeda away with Japan, Oh Hyeon-gyu and Yang Hyun-jun with South Korea and fringe man Marco Tilio with Australia, Rodgers’ resources are stretched to the limit in the forward areas, even with the bonus of Kyogo Furuhashi missing out on joining compatriots Maeda and Reo Hatate in Qatar.
Kyogo, despite an ongoing shoulder issue, has carried a heavy burden as first-choice striker, starting 26 of Celtic’s 29 games this season. With Oh the only other recognised striker in the squad, it would be no surprise if Rodgers seeks reinforcements in that position.
Possible midfield exits
Rodgers insisted Reo Hatate’s emotional response to coming on as a substitute in Tuesday’s win over St Mirren was down to it being his first game after three months out through injury rather than any suggestion that he might not play for Celtic again.
The Celtic manager will no doubt be hoping the Japanese 26-year-old and fellow key midfielder Matt O’Riley, who has been linked with Inter Milan, will still be in his squad by the time Hatate returns from Asian Cup duty.
David Turnbull, who has found himself behind those two in the pecking order, is one of several players whose Celtic futures are even less certain, with the 24-year-old Scotland cap out of contract this summer.
Celtic’s bloated squad of 30-plus players could do with some pruning. The club will no doubt be keen for Yosuke Ideguchi to find a permanent new club after his return from the J-League, where he helped Avispa Fukuoka finish seventh.
Then there’s James McCarthy. Remember him? Will this be the window when the 33-year-old former Republic of Ireland midfielder, who has not played since October 2022 but is under contract until summer 2025, eventually moves on? Defender Kobayashi is another deemed surplus to requirements.
Such departures would give Rodgers more room for manoeuvre. The 50-year-old knew that his ‘mark II’ spell would be different to his first and that some fans have still not forgiven him for leaving them for Leicester City last time round.
He said he ignored the “noise” prior to the Old Firm derby amid Rangers’ renewed challenge, but a better transfer window would be music to the Celtic manager’s ears and could keep a lid on any murmurs of discontent.
