The transfer window has been open for nearly a week and Celtic are plotting new arrivals in several positions this summer.
Contextualising the situation, the hunt for a new number one has become the biggest talking point among supporters, with Brendan Rodgers keen to fill the void left by Joe Hart ahead of the new campaign.
There are plenty of reasons why a replacement hasn’t been finalised yet. EURO 2024 is ongoing, and players may wait until after the tournament to resolve their future. Meanwhile, across the board, the market is still in a state of infancy when analysing completed deals.
Either way, Celtic can’t wait too much longer to find a new stopper, as crucial preparation for 2024/25 is just around the corner.
The importance of building new relationships at Celtic
Hart had a detailed understanding of how the Celtic backline functioned, having spent three seasons between the sticks at Parkhead.
Given he is now retired, the heir to his position should be given as much time as possible to build relationships with his new teammates. It will be a daunting task to replace his leadership qualities, but securing a swift arrival is paramount to help weed out any potential teething problems.
Understandably, I write this from an idealistic perspective, which doesn’t always translate into reality. Nevertheless, pre-season could be a vital part of this, seeing as Celtic have five games in store to bed in fresh arrivals.
Ayr United and Queens Park in a couple of weeks will probably come too soon; regardless, there has to be someone in post ahead of the Hoops’ US tour, where they travel to face DC United, Manchester City and Chelsea.
Time is of the essence for Celtic, and hopefully, there can be some movement on that front in the near future.