Celtic are looking to close the gap at the top of the premiership when they face Motherwell at lunchtime on Sunday.
Rangers put five past Hearts on Saturday without reply, extending their lead to five points while boosting their goal difference.
The return of Cameron Carter-Vickers, Alistair Johnston, and Odin Thiago Holm could be the catalyst Celtic needs to reinvigorate their title aspirations. Their presence not only strengthens the squad physically but also brings a psychological boost.
However, the spotlight also intensifies on Celtic’s recruitment strategy, which has come under scrutiny from Chris Sutton.
The club claimed that the targets they had identified simply weren’t available, pointing to the situation with Celtic’s Matt O’Riley, who simply wasn’t for sale.
Sutton’s critique of the summer signings and the lack of impact from January arrivals Nicolas Kuhn and Adam Idah underscores a broader issue facing the club – the need for effective talent identification and acquisition.
Writing in the Daily Record, he voiced his frustrations with the recruitment, expressing his bemusement that Celtic couldn’t identify quality acquisitions.
“Identified targets were unavailable. Well, identify more or some alternatives. Because, quite simply, are you telling me there wasn’t a single left-back out there available as better cover to Greg Taylor than Alexandro Bernabei?
“Come on. Also, I’m not entirely sure what transfer activity being at its lowest in England for 10 years has to do with Celtic.”
Peter Lawwell himself has lamented the work, or lack of, carried out in the January transfer window. If only there was something he could’ve done to change the outcome of the window.
