Celtic could report back for pre-season training next week around a dozen players lighter. And that number might well double over the coming weeks as Martin O'Neill clears the decks. The champions will discover today who they will kick off their Premiership title defence against. And fans will hope their Double-winning squad will look almost unrecognisable come flag day. It will come as little surprise that the Hoops have yet to dip into the transfer market.
Easy Tap-Ins for Parkhead Chiefs
Yet there are a few easy tap-ins that Parkhead chiefs could get over the line to kickstart their summer rebuild. Out-of-contract cult hero Kelechi Iheanacho has made no secret of the fact he'd love to extend his stay in Glasgow after his goalscoring heroics helped rescue five-in-a-row. Yes, there are major question marks over his fitness. But when you already have a proven goalscorer in the building, there's no need to rush them out the door. The ex-Man City, Leicester City and Sevilla hitman might command a hefty wage packet. But if a compromise can be reached, there is little doubt Iheanacho could have a major role to play in 2026/27 - both as a starter and a super sub.
Marcelo Saracchi also falls firmly into the no-brainer category. The Uruguayan left-back has interest in the MLS and Turkey but Record Sport has been told that he wants to rejoin Celtic after an impressive season-long loan. A fans' favourite, Saracchi would provide quality cover for Kieran Tierney at a cut-price fee of less than £2million. O'Neill rates the 28-year-old and it's up to chief executive Michael Nicholson to thrash out a deal.
Elijah Just: The One That Got Away?
Then you have Elijah Just. The majestic midfielder took Scottish football by storm in a sparkling debut campaign and was rightly nominated for Player of the Year. Celtic scouts have watched the technically gifted playmaker closely over the last six months with a view to launching a summer swoop. It seems inevitable that Just will bank Motherwell a record-breaking fee just a year after being plucked from the Danish second division.
But there's a growing fear that the Parkhead giants might have missed the boat after Just exploded onto the global stage. Just made World Cup history for New Zealand by becoming the first Kiwi to bag a brace on football's biggest stage in the 2-2 draw with Iran. And with Reo Hatate, Paulo Bernardo, Arne Engels and possibly Benjamin Nygren all likely to leave Celtic, Just is the most obvious successor. But with other clubs around Europe sitting up and taking notice of his talents, Celts now risk a bidding war.
Bodo/Glimt hitman Kasper Hogh, Go Ahead Eagles midfielder Jakob Breum and Borussia Dortmund rising star Cole Campbell are other names believed to be on a spiralling shortlist as O'Neill looks to construct a new spine to his team.
Quality Already at the Club
Yet while so much has been made of incomings, it's easy to forget there is quality already at the club that O'Neill can build around. Defensively, the Hoops look relatively solid with Cameron Carter-Vickers returning from a long-term Achilles injury. In Alistair Johnston and Kieran Tierney, they have two Champions League-quality full-backs who are capable of competing against the elite. Mr Reliable Liam Scales has just penned a new contract, while World Cup star Auston Trusty will look to form a watertight partnership with fellow American CCV. Behind them is an assured presence in Viljami Sinisalo. But O'Neill might well believe he can upgrade the No1 position after Kasper Schmeichel's retirement.
Captain Callum McGregor was the glue that held the Celtic dressing room together last season and the serial-winner remains the heartbeat of the team. At 33, though, he needs energetic legs alongside him in the engine room. The champions have been crying out for a defensive powerhouse in the ilk of Victor Wanyama for years, while they are also craving more pace and dynamism in the middle of the park.
Attacking Areas: The Biggest Weakness
Further forward, you'd expect a flurry of additions as that's where Celtic are at their weakest. O'Neill won't stand in Daizen Maeda's way as the modern-day legend targets a move to one of Europe's top five leagues. That leaves a gigantic void in the attacking areas. Lightning-quick Maeda's relentless work rate and pressing are irreplaceable, but Celts have had 18 months to sort out a succession plan for the 17-goal hero. Adding more firepower will be a priority for O'Neill and the veteran gaffer will target at least two new strikers.
The same goes for the flanks. Yang has come on leaps and bounds but Celts are scouring the market for another two or three wide men - with the left-hand side most urgent. Crocked Jota isn't expected to be back involved until the end of October, while Seb Tounekti hasn't fully convinced. One-club man James Forrest turns 35 next month - and Michel-Ange Balikwisha is surplus to requirements.
Urgent Need for Speed in the Market
The summer window may only have officially opened on Monday but Celtic's need for speed in the market is urgent. Gaping holes exist all over the park and with a raft of players still to be cleared out, O'Neill must be backed with a bumper transfer war chest. Fans won't accept the same mistakes of last season being repeated 12 months later. The under-fire hierarchy held their hands up last year and vowed to right the wrongs. Before you know it, the quest for six-in-a-row will have started and the £40m winner-takes-all Champions League play-off will be around the corner. There's no time to waste and if the board are to get fans back onside, they are now in last-chance saloon - with no room left for excuses.
