Celtic boss Martin O'Neill has admitted it's unlikely the club will add any new faces before tonight's Champions League deadline, with the Hoops facing a £40million two-legged qualifier against LASK.
The Parkhead side have until 11pm on Tuesday night to register two additional players for the tie, and O'Neill had hoped to bring in at least one new midfielder to replace Arne Engels following the playmaker's £22m move to West Ham.
However, O'Neill has all but conceded defeat in his attempts to add a new face in time, and will go with the squad he has at his disposal.
Transfer hopes fade
Asked if any business would be done before the Euro deadline, O'Neill said: "I wouldn't really be sure. A fairly decent chance there will be nothing happening. I think we are still in the process of trying to do that. We haven't been able to get someone in in time to do that."
He added: "There are a number of players that we're looking at, and hopefully we'll be able to do that at the end of the transfer window."
Celtic have already spent £30m on four new signings this summer, and O'Neill remains upbeat about his current squad.
Squad confidence
"We're in decent shape. I think most of the players that are at the club are available, so that's good news," he said. "I'm happy with the players that we've brought in. I'm just really looking forward to the game."
"The two ties are big matches but are also exceptionally difficult. We'll just be ready for the challenge - or at least we think we are."
O'Neill also praised new signing Haissem Hassan, saying: "I like the players we've signed. I think I said Hassan had a little bit more football played, that's the nature of the game. I think over the course of the season whether in the Champions League or Europa League it's up to the players now."
Engels exit disappointment
O'Neill was disappointed to lose star man Engels before the crucial Champions League showdown but insisted the Belgian wanted to leave.
"Of course it is (a disappointment). Arne wanted to go. He didn't want to play in the matches in case he got injured," O'Neill said. "That was understandable. But for the football club, that's a disappointment because at this moment, he's hard to replace with the running power he has."
"It is what it is but there's nothing we can do about it."
Celtic endured a humiliating play-off exit to Kazakh minnows Kairat Almaty last season, and O'Neill recalled: "I watched one of those games - I think I was doing some TV work in the second leg. Of course it became a major disappointment. The players who are still at the football club may well remember it and have something to achieve this time."
