Celtic's summer transfer window was a tale of two strategies: patience early, panic late. The Hoops made just four signings by August 12, then scrambled to add a flurry of loans and free agents in the final days. The result has been another Champions League exit, heavy defeats to Rangers, and a squad that still looks unbalanced.
The club spent around £35million on new recruits but finished the window in profit after banking approximately £48million from player sales. The gap left by Arne Engels in midfield remains unfilled, a key weakness behind Celtic's recent poor results.
Early arrivals made an impact
Camilo Duran arrived in a £6million move from Qarabag with a growing reputation after scoring five Champions League goals. The 24-year-old forward hit the ground running, with goals and assists including a double against LASK, but has since gone five games without scoring. He earned his first Colombia cap during the international break.
Kasper Hogh joined in a record-breaking £11million-plus deal from Bodo/Glimt. The Danish striker scored a hat-trick in the 5-1 win over Kilmarnock but has drawn a blank in eight of nine appearances since. Manager O'Neill must find a way to get the best out of his marquee signing.
Mixed fortunes for new faces
Haissem Hassan arrived from Real Oviedo short of fitness after missing most of pre-season, limiting his contribution. The 24-year-old Egyptian has just one assist in nine games and was left on the bench for both Glasgow derbies.
Mika Baur, a £6.8million signing from Paderborn, is one of the few summer additions who can claim a pass mark. The 22-year-old playmaker has two goals in ten appearances and earned his first Germany caps under new coach Jurgen Klopp.
Late deals fail to convince
Oliver Sorensen joined on a season-long loan from Parma just 48 hours before the deadline after Celtic's Champions League capitulation to LASK forced a change of plans. The Denmark international was hauled off at half-time in the 3-1 home defeat to Ferencvaros.
Sam Johnstone arrived as a long-awaited replacement for retired Kasper Schmeichel, but only after Celtic's European fate was decided. The ex-England keeper looked nervous in a 3-0 Old Firm defeat at Ibrox, and Viljami Sinisalo has since reclaimed the gloves.
Youngsters wait in the wings
Shim Mheuka, an England Under-20s sensation, joined on loan from Chelsea and has yet to score, though he had a strike ruled out for offside against St Mirren. Landon Emenalo, another Chelsea loanee, is still recovering from injury and has not appeared at Lennoxtown since August.
Joel van den Berg, a £3.4million signing from PSV Eindhoven, has also been sidelined with an ankle injury, with fans only seeing him hobbling into Parkhead in a moon boot. Jordan Lotomba, on a one-year deal from Feyenoord, has made just a ten-minute cameo in a Premier Sports Cup defeat at Ibrox, looking out of his depth.
