Celtic will learn their Champions League playoff opponent in Friday's draw at UEFA headquarters, with the Premiership champions one two-legged tie from a place in the lucrative league phase. The stakes are enormous after last season's qualifying collapse, when Kazakhstan's Kairat Almaty dumped Celtic out on penalties following two wretched legs.
Golden ticket worth over £40m
Qualification would end the anguish of that miserable night and secure a cash windfall in excess of £40m. New £17m strike-force signings Camilo Duran and Kasper Hogh are set to make their debuts against Dundee tonight and could be key to a potential multi-stop European run.
Celtic supporters, who raged after the Kairat exit, are demanding further reinforcements, and the club are aware of the dangers lurking in qualifying.
Transfer latest: Ghedjemis chase, Johnston and Engels exits
Celtic are stepping up their pursuit of Frosinone winger Fares Ghedjemis, who was left out of the Serie A new boys' friendly with Benevento on Saturday. The Hoops have had an opening offer rejected but are preparing an improved bid for the Algerian World Cup ace.
Boss Martin O'Neill, however, is resigned to losing key men Alistair Johnston and Arne Engels in the coming days. Johnston is close to a move to Everton in a deal worth up to £15m, with the Canada international keen on the switch to the Premier League side.
Playoff schedule and potential opponents
The two-legged playoff ties are scheduled for August 18/19 and August 25/26. Celtic could face any of the following:
- Viking Stavanger
- LASK Linz
- NK Celje or Ararat-Armenia
- Kairat Almaty or Levski Sofia
- Aarhus or Sabah
Follow all the drama live as Celtic bid to roar back into the Champions League.
