What next for Celtic? Transfer plans for Postecoglou ahead of Champions League return

Sean Markus Clifford

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What next for Celtic? Transfer plans for Postecoglou ahead of Champions League return image

Following a successful debut campaign for Celtic under Ange Postecoglou that has yielded a Scottish Premiership and Scottish League Cup double, the Bhoys will now turn their attention to preparing for 2022/23 when UEFA Champions League football will make its long-awaited return to Parkhead.

Things didn't start out so well for Postecoglou in the east end of Glasgow as he inherited a side that finished 25 points behind bitter rivals Rangers in the previous campaign. They dropped nine points in their first six league games in the Scottish top flight.

Since then, Celtic went from strength to strength, carving out results in a whole manner of ways to seal their 10th title in 11 years.

Sporting News takes a look at what may lie ahead for the newly crowned champions, alongside evaluating where the Bhoys may need to make alterations to be competitive in the Champions League next season.

When were Celtic last in the Champions League?

In terms of the Champions League proper, you need to go back to the 2017/18 campaign for the last time Celtic were present beyond the qualification phase for the group stage.

Under the stewardship of Brendan Rodgers at the time, the Hoops managed to secure a third-place finish in a group that consisted of Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich and Anderlecht, even though they only accrued three points from their six games. They all came on matchday two as they won 3-0 away to the Belgian side in Brussels.

Despite losing all of their other five games, Anderlecht could also only muster one victory, in a 1-0 triumph in the return fixture on the final matchday. Celtic would take third place courtesy of their better head-to-head record, securing a berth in the last 32 of the UEFA Europa League knockouts. 

Ending their five-year exile from the competition in the 2022/23 season, Celtic will hope to avoid such a tough group this time around.

Who will leave Celtic this summer?

Entering the second phase of a significant rebuild, Celtic will no doubt look to move some players on to bring in top talent this summer.

Although concrete plans are unclear at the moment, there are at least a few individuals that will be expected to depart the club either on loan or permanently due to their limited roles in the recent success story surrounding the club, as well as some players who may have run their course at Celtic Park.

Nir Bitton

Long-term servant Bitton is expected to depart from Celtic this summer, with reports emerging from his native Israel suggesting he will end his nine-year stay at the club.

The 30-year-old enforcer has enjoyed a decorated career in Glasgow, picking up no fewer than 18 trophies in his time at the Scottish giants. Primarily a defensive midfielder by trade, Bitton has also been used as a central defender during spells at Celtic due to his comfortable nature on the ball.

Having failed to reach double figures for league appearances in 2021/22, the Israel international looks likely to be one of the first senior casualties as Celtic prepare for the new season.

Vasilis Barkas

One man that looks almost certain to leave the Hoops this summer is 27-year-old Greek goalkeeper Barkas. Signed at the beginning of 2020/21 for a fee of around £5 million, big things were initially expected of the man brought in to replace the outgoing Fraser Forster.

Unfortunately, things just never really worked out for Barkas, with some poor displays causing the goalkeeper to be consigned to a back-up role. At the beginning of 2021/22, Celtic signed Joe Hart, who has gone on to be their main man between the sticks, leading to Barkas making just two appearances in the campaign and rarely featuring in matchday squads.

Whether on loan or permanently, it is almost certain that the Greek won't be a part of the furniture at Celtic Park moving forward.

Albian Ajeti

Yet another big-money splurge at the beginning of 2020/21, Ajeti was brought in with high expectations after signing from West Ham United for a reported £4.95 million.

Nevertheless, the striker has struggled immensely to make an impact in Scotland, registering just nine goals in 48 appearances for Celtic over two seasons. His struggles with fitness have been well documented, leading to criticism in some quarters from sections of the media and his former manager Neil Lennon.

Largely occupying a position on the periphery for Celtic in 2021/22, both parties will look to find an arrangement to go their separate ways in the summer.

Boli Bolingoli

One other player who will surely see his time cut short at the Bhoys this summer is left-back Boli Bolingoli, who has spent time out on loan at Istanbul Basaksehir and FC Ufa in the past two seasons. The Congolese left-back flouted COVID-19 protocols at the beginning of 2020/21, earning a three-game ban and plenty of criticism from club officials and the Scottish media in the process.

He has only made two appearances for Celtic in the campaign gone by, with the last being in a 2-0 victory over Motherwell in October 2021. His loan spell at FC Ufa was prematurely cut short due to the suspension of all Russian footballing activity in the wake of the invasion of Ukraine.

Celtic will no doubt look to find the full-back an alternative club in pre-season.

Who are the key players Celtic need to keep for a Champions League run?

Keeping hold of key players will be equally as important as freshening up the squad as Celtic prepare for the new campaign. Here are some of those the Hoops must try to persuade to stay ahead of their Champions League involvement.

Cameron Carter-Vickers

Cultivating a reputation for his robust presence at the back this season, Celtic will be desperate to keep a hold of central defender Carter-Vickers for next term. Presently on loan from Tottenham, the 24-year-old reportedly has an option to buy inserted into his deal, which the Bhoys are keen to activate as soon as possible.

The USA international was a last-minute deadline-day signing for Celtic, and his solid partnership with Swedish defender Carl Starfelt has been integral to their title success, with both contributing heavily to the Hoops' defensive record, which has been the best in Scotland in 2021/22.

Carter-Vickers' performances have also earned him adulation from the media, leading to a nomination for the Scottish Football Writers Player of the Year award. Progressing forward to the European stage, Celtic must do everything in their power to tie the American down on a permanent deal.

Jota

Similarly to Cameron Carter-Vickers, Celtic winger Jota is on a loan deal with a buy option from parent club Benfica.

The 23-year-old has been an instrumental part of the Hoops' double-winning season, scoring and assisting regularly as well as becoming a cult hero in Glasgow due to his skilful nature. Postecoglou has taken his game to a new level, whilst also giving the attacker a platform to flourish as a key weapon in the Bhoys' offensive arsenal.

His quality has already translated to the European stage, as stunning goals against the likes of Bayer Leverkusen and Ferencvaros in the Europa League have raised his stock around the continent and gained plenty of admirers. Going into Europe's premier competition come 2022/23, Celtic will be desperate to tie down the proven performer and give him the tools to continue his fantastic exploits.

Who will Celtic sign this summer?

Transfer rumour season is alive and well in Scotland already, with plenty of names being floated around as potential targets that Celtic may look to swoop for in the upcoming window.

Postecoglou is no stranger to a surprise signing, as he has demonstrated in his first 12 months in the job at Parkhead. Here are some of the more realistic rumours that could come to fruition once business begins to take place around Europe.

Christopher Scott

Though no transfer links can ever be certain at this point in the year, Bayern Munich midfielder Christopher Scott looks to be the most sought-after target from a Celtic point of view as reports continue to persist regarding his potential arrival at the club.

Capable of playing anywhere in the middle of the park as well as out on the flanks, the 19-year-old has shown real potential playing for Bayern Munich II in the fourth tier of German football, registering 13 goal contributions in 22 games in 2021/22 (seven goals and six assists). Scott has also made two appearances for the Bayern Munich first team.

He is out of contract this summer and has been heavily linked with a transfer to Celtic. In an increasingly expensive environment to find quality players, Postecoglou could pick up the prospect for a mere development fee from the German champions and net himself another hidden gem.

Mohanad Jeahze

Celtic have also been linked with a move for Hammarby man Mohanad Jeahze, who is an attacking left-back and a fully-fledged Iraq international. He has been a key player for the Stockholm-based high-flyers in 2022, helping them to sit at the top of the Allsvenskan whilst recording six-goal contributions in 14 appearances encompassing all competitions as of May 11.

Hammarby sporting director Jesper Jansson confirmed that the Scottish champions have sent scouts to watch the 25-year-old, raising the possibility that Celtic could try to prize the energetic defender away from the Swedish capital this summer.

Postecoglou is in need of some competition at left-back ahead of the Champions League group stages. Considering his contract expires in December 2023, Jeahze may be available for an outlay that wouldn't stretch the finances at Celtic Park by an extraordinary amount.

Ola Solbakken

Staying in Scandinavian territory, Bodø/Glimt attacker Solbakken has been heralded by some as another potential recruit in the upcoming transfer window.

Familiar to those of a green and white persuasion, the 23-year-old played a starring role in Bodø/Glimt's 5-1 aggregate victory over Celtic in the Europa Conference League this year, scoring in the second leg and looking dangerous throughout.

Coming off the right flank, the left-footed winger has been in sparkling form for the Norwegian champions in 2022, scoring eight goals and creating five in just 19 appearances across the board. His contract is due to expire in December 2022, signifying that he would be available for a modest fee.

Jose Mourinho's Roma are also believed to be monitoring his situation, but could the lure of Champions League football at Celtic be too good to turn down for Solbakken?

Which other areas do Celtic need to strengthen?

Celtic definitely need more competition for places on the right flank, in central midfield, and at left-back, though there are other positions that could do with some additions.

Defensive midfield — the number 6 position

In particular, there is a growing sense that Celtic need to recruit a proper defensive midfielder going into the Champions League. In 2021/22, captain Callum McGregor has played as the Hoops' deepest-lying midfielder, but there is an argument to say that he could be utilised further on the continental stage.

The 28-year-old was debatably Scotland's star player at UEFA Euro 2020, playing in the number eight role as the spare man to collect the ball and generate attacks. If Celtic can bring in a tough tackler who is physically adept and also good on the ball, this could allow McGregor more of a licence to roam with the ball and break between the lines in attack.

Furthermore, with the seemingly impending departure of Bitton this summer, Celtic will need to find a suitable replacement after his many years of service at the club.

Striker

Celtic already possess two excellent strikers in the form of Kyogo Furuhashi and Giorgos Giakoumakis, who have racked up over 30 goals between them in their title-winning campaign.

Despite this, both suffered lengthy injury lay-offs in 2021/22, leading to the likes of Daizen Maeda, Liel Abada, and even youth prospect Joey Dawson having to lead the line at certain points throughout the season. Maeda in particular has history of being used as a central striker, but he has shown his quality in abundance on the left-hand side of the attack since joining in January 2022.

Bringing in another forward that can score regularly and press from the front would be a smart move by Postecoglou, as the Champions League group phase draws ever closer to returning to Glasgow.

Central defender

Succeeding in the Champions League is difficult. Most teams who do build from a foundation of having a solid central defensive unit.

In spite of being so successful domestically over the past decade, there have been many times where Celtic's defence has been called into question within continental football. Starfelt and Carter-Vickers have formed a rigid partnership at the back for the Hoops, but they could do with some help to keep them on their toes should the latter sign permanently.

Stephen Welsh is a good prospect in that area of the field for Celtic but is an unknown quantity at European level for the Scottish champions. The experienced Christopher Jullien has proven his mettle on the continent before, but he is still suffering from lasting effects of a serious injury sustained against Dundee United back in December 2020.

Bringing in another capable defender with good ball progression could be key to the length of Celtic's Champions League venture in 2022/23.

Sean Markus Clifford