Martin O'Neill eyes 'couple of new faces' for Celtic before season starts
Martin O'Neill insists Celtic are making progress in the transfer market after failing to retain Kelechi Iheanacho and Marcelo Saracchi.
SNS
Celtic manager Martin O'Neill has insisted that the club is making progress in its efforts to bolster the squad before the new season begins. Despite facing criticism from fans regarding a slow summer transfer window, O'Neill remains optimistic about adding a couple of new faces to his ranks.
So far, the only addition to the squad this summer is Colombian striker Camilo Duran, who arrived from Qarabag. While his goal helped secure a 1-1 draw in a recent pre-season friendly against Middlesbrough, the lack of depth remains a concern for supporters.
O'Neill addressed the recent failures to retain key personnel. The club had hoped to secure striker Kelechi Iheanacho on a permanent basis, but the Nigerian opted for a move to Bursaspor. "We thought we had a deal with Iheanacho and it didn't go," O'Neill explained.
The manager also touched upon the departure of Uruguayan left-back Marcelo Saracchi, whose loan spell from Boca Juniors has concluded. Meanwhile, chief executive Michael Nicholson noted that the club faces stiff competition for targets from big-spending English clubs, which has complicated their recruitment strategy.