Alan Brazil reckons Celtic's dithering in the transfer market will be giving Martin O'Neill sleepless nights. The Hoops are set to rake in £8million plus £2m in potential add-ons as Daizen Maeda closes in on a move to Premier League new boys Ipswich Town.
Limited summer business
Boss O'Neill will hope to reinvest those funds on new signings, with £6m hitman Camilo Duran the only new face this summer. The champions are locked in talks with Bundesliga outfit Paderborn over a £4m deal to land German playmaker Mika Baur, while still chasing Egypt winger Hasseim Hassan and other targets, such as Bodo/Glimt’s Kasper Hogh.
With the Premiership title defence just 11 days away and the £40m winner-takes-all Champions League play-off looming, legendary radio host Brazil is alarmed at the lack of business that's been done so far while Derek McInnes revamps his Rangers squad with six new arrivals.
Brazil's astonishment
Former Scotland and Ipswich striker Brazil is also baffled that Celts haven't demanded more dosh for Maeda - who is in the final year of his contract. The Celtic-daft presenter told talkSPORT: "I'm astonished. There was a time when Ipswich used to sell their players too cheaply. I don't know what it was but we had a problem getting the value that we should've got for players. Now it's Celtic's turn."
He added: "I dread to think what's happening at Celtic. Martin can't be sleeping at night because here we go again. Celtic in my opinion were very fortunate to be champions last year. I don't want to get into referee decisions because each team - Hearts in particular - had big results with referees as well. Never mind just Celtic."
Rangers look strong
Brazil said: "The classic example. Middlesbrough go up to Celtic Park and there was almost more red than green and white. The fans have had enough. You look what Rangers are doing - and I hate to say that, Ally must be laughing - Rangers look really, really strong. They are the team to beat next year, make no mistake. They won't admit it, but they know that."
He continued: "Our recruitment is diabolical. I don't know who's in charge of it, but they ought to look somewhere else because it's not good enough, and we can easily start the season iffy again. The strength in depth of Rangers this year... it's going to be tough to beat Rangers this year."
Struggle ahead
Brazil - who is set to return to talkSPORT airwaves next month after undergoing life-saving surgery - fears trophy-starved Gers could seriously threaten Celtic's domestic dominance after claiming O'Neill's side were lucky to secure five-in-a-row. He added: "Some Celtic supporters will be angry with me today but I'm giving my opinion, it's going to be a struggle and Martin knows that. We were lucky last year. It was character and a few other things that got us through the final wire. But if you're being honest, Celtic were so lucky. The endeavour and the heart were there - but the quality wasn't. It's going to be even more difficult this season unless they get the finger out."
