A combination of incoming loan deals and permanent transfers saw Celtic rebuild the squad ahead of a busy season of domestic and European football. The headline deal of the summer was the record fee purchase of Kasper Høgh from Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt for around £11 million pounds. While the headline grabbing exit was Arne Engels moving to the English Championship with West Ham for a fee around £22 Million pounds.

But after all the incomings and outgoings, how much did Celtic actually spend and how much did they receive for the players sold. We breakdown the various deals below.

How much did Celtic spend?

If we look at the figures being reported then Celtic spent roughly £31 million pounds this summer. That number will likely rise if future performance add ons and bonuses are trigged. Celtic choose not to disclose transfer fees but there are reported figures that give a rough estimate of what the club have spent this window. This represents an increase of £16 million pounds after last summers failed transfer window that ultimately led to Brendan Rodgers leaving the football club. The club reportedly spent £15 million last summer.

Every Celtic summer signing

* There will be add ons to consider and also potential loan fees not included in this information.

How much did Celtic receive from player sales?

It’s believed Celtic received roughly £46.5 million pounds in sales this summer. Mainly from the Arne Engels transfer to West Ham and a few other sizeable deals.

Every Celtic summer sale

What was Celtic’s net spend?

Celtic transfer spending: £31 m

Celtic transfer income: £46.5m

Net transfer spend/income: + £15.5m

• It’s likely the net transfer profit will be less once you factor in loan fees and add ons.

• Bernardo and Balikwisha leave Celtic on loan with option to buy

Opinion

The window started in a positive manner with the acquisitions of Kasper Høgh and Camilo Duran for a combined £17 million pounds. However it took too long to get those two in the door initially. It looked like Celtic meant business during the summer window and would continue to spend big. However, the embarrassing Champions League exit to LASK appears to have altered plans somewhat. With several loans coming in on deadline day, it appears the club changed plans due to the lower rate of money they would receive from the Europa League. Whether Martin O’Neill has enough to fight domestically and in Europe is yet to be seen.

The figures based in this article are based on transfer figures published in the mainstream press. Celtic have not confirmed any of the fees received or spent this summer.

All views expressed on Celtic DNA are personal opinions and are for commentary and discussion purposes only

🔗 Missed this article?

🤝 This article is sponsored by Pops and Promos : Create A Pro Wrestler

Kids Pro Wrestling Drawing Book

👉 Find it Here

Former Motherwell manager Jens Berthel Askou was asked to confirm how close he came to becoming Celtic manager this summer during an appearance on the Open Goal Podcast. Andy Halliday and Paul Slane visited Toulouse for a Youtube Vlog where they got to sit down with Askou for an interview after he left Motherwell for France this summer.

When asked about the links to the Celtic job the Danish manager remained coy and wouldn’t be drawn into which jobs he could have taken instead of Toulouse this summer.

Andy Halliday said he was terrified of his former manager going to Celtic before asking how close a move to the club actually was. He asked - “Was there ever any approach at your point of view or were you quite settled in broadening your horizon seeing what the options were and ultimately choosing a beautiful city like Toulouse?”

Berthel Askou responded by saying “I don’t want to talk about what other opportunities might have been. I’ll let people speculate about that. I’m here now and I’m happy about that. I feel that that’s a very good decision I’ve made to be here and I’m extremely excited now.”

We don’t know if Askou was offered the role or not, however the former Motherwell man was quick to shut down the line of questioning and only wanted to reaffirm he was happy to be in France this season. His new side have not got off to a great start and are yet to win a game under his leadership. It will be interesting to see whether Askou can replicate the successful style of play he had at Motherwell. If he does well in France then maybe there is the possibility of Celtic renewing their reported interest after Martin O’Neill moves on from the club. Many Celtic fans will keep an eye on the job the former Motherwell man does for that very reason.

All views expressed on Celtic DNA are personal opinions and are for commentary and discussion purposes only

🔗 Missed this article?

Former Celtic defender Maik Nawrocki has suffered a serious knee injury his new club RC Lens have confirmed.

The polish centre half has completely torn his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and will now face an extended period of time on the sidelines after requiring surgery. Lens confirmed the sad news this morning after posting on X.

The French club posted a message of support for the former Celtic player, saying:

“Seriously injured, Maik Nawrocki is suffering from a complete tear of the anterior cruciate ligament and will undergo surgery.”

Lens added that everyone at the club was standing behind the defender and wished him a speedy recovery.

Difficult setback for former Celtic defender

Nawrocki only joined Lens from Celtic in a deal worth £2million pounds this summer following a difficult spell at the club. Many fans thought the club would have been better keeping hold of the defender as a squad option but Celtic decided to cash in on the former Legia Warsaw man after several loan moves.

Nawrocki facing lengthy absence

Lens have not provided a timeline for Nawrocki’s return, but an ACL will likely keep the defender out for at least this season. It comes at a bad time for the Polish defender as he was looking to try and establish himself at his new club before playing Champions League football this season.

Everyone at Celtic DNA wishes Maik well with his surgery and recovery.

All views expressed on Celtic DNA are personal opinions and are for commentary and discussion purposes only

🔗 Missed this article?

🤝 This article is sponsored by Pops and Promos : Create A Pro Wrestler

Kids Pro Wrestling Drawing Book

👉 Find it Here

Celtic picked up another important win against Aberdeen at Celtic Park with a convincing 3-0 result. Several things caught my eye about the performance. From Hassan’s directness to the Ox continuing to improve. Here are five talking points from Wednesday’s match.

1. Hassan looks like he is going to be asset

Watching Hassan from the start against Aberdeen I thought he looked a real threat. His direct running and pace reminded me of Didier Agathe during O’Neill’s first run as manager in the 2000’s. His ability to take on his man out wide and beat him is not only something this team has been missing, but it’s also a dying art in football. If he settles into the rhythm of the team moving forward then I think his running power could be a real asset for us this season. With Jota’s quality on the left and Hassan’s pace on the right, we’d have a really good mix. I can’t help think he might have turned the tide had he come on during last week’s horror show in Austria.

2. Shim Mheuka had something coming off the bench

The young Chelsea striker got around 20 minutes off the bench last night and looked a real handful. He was lively and keen to impress on what was his first ever top level appearance. I was specifically impressed by his physicality, his energy and his eagerness to close down. His scoring record at Prem 2 level would indicate that he will be an asset when called upon this season. I still expect Høgh and Duran to be the main strikers but Mheuka showed he is here for game time this season.

3. Oxlade-Chamberlain is looking better with every game

I thought Oxlade-Chamberlain offered very little last season and was surprised to see the club renew his contract this summer. However, the former Arsenal man played well again last night after a positive start to the season. He seems to be getting better the more he plays, probably down to his improved fitness levels after a pre season. He seems both calm and composed on the ball and you can see him use his experience throughout the match. I don’t expect him to play a huge amount for us this season with the number of midfielders we have signed, however the former England international will be a useful option for O’Neill based on the start he’s made.

4. Yang ahead of Tounekti

Based on what I’ve seen between the two wingers I would pick Yang every single time. Last night did nothing to change my mind on that. While Tounekti flatters to deceive, Yang is direct and purposeful. Preferably neither would be a starting winger for Celtic, however the South Korean is at least dynamic and offers an attacking purpose. While Tounekti passes the ball backwards too often. For that reason I think Yang will be a miss for us during the Asian games.

5. Sinisalo Looks Like he’s Celtic’s No.1

It looks like Sinisalo will start the season as No.1 despite the arrival of Sam Johnstone. The former wolves goalkeeper was on the bench last night after arriving on loan earlier in the day. Early indications are that Sinisalo will start the season in goal with Johnstone having to wait for his opportunity.

Martin O’Neill is said to be a genuine fan of Johnstone from his time in England. Based on last night, it looks like he won’t walk into the club as automatic first choice. The manager will be looking for genuine competition between the sticks ahead of a long season with a lot of games.

Opinion

Last night was a chance to get a look at some of the new signings and it was promising. We’ll have to wait to see how they fit in longer term, but Martin O’Neill has some real genuine competition for places now heading into a long season. A solid 3-0 home win, which could have been more if they didn’t take their foot off the gas in the second half. Early days but signs are promising for this team going forward.

What do you think? Did you notice anything different from last night’s match?

All views expressed on Celtic DNA are personal opinions and are for commentary and discussion purposes only

🔗 Missed this article?

🤝 This article is sponsored by Pops and Promos : Create A Pro Wrestler

Kids Pro Wrestling Drawing Book

👉 Find it Here

Reo Hatate completed a surprise move to Burnley in the English Championship last night before the deadline closed down south. The Japanese midfielder was expected to move on from Celtic this window but nothing had been confirmed until the final minutes.

Just how much did Celtic make on the transfer of Reo Hatate to Burnley?

How much did Celtic sell Reo Hatate for?

The Celtic Way are reporting that Celtic will receive a fee in the region of £6.5 million plus add ons for Hatate from Burnley. The deal could potentially rise further if certain add ons are triggered.

The club never usually make transfer fees public but it’s understood that Celtic may also hold a 10 or 15% sell on fee also. So what does this mean exactly?

How much did Celtic pay for Reo Hatate?

Reo Hatate was brought to Celtic by Ange Postecoglou in January 22 for a fee believed to be around the £1 million mark. He joined the champions from J League side Kawasaki Frontale who are believed to have a sell on also.

How much profit did Celtic make on Hatate?

Celtic look to have made roughly £5 million profit before any sell on is taken into consideration.

Opinion

Reo Hatate had one of the best starts to his Celtic career of all time. A goal at Tynecastle and a double against Rangers at Celtic Park made him a quick fans favourite. However, despite being capable of brilliance, Reo’s performances were hit and miss at times. With his last two seasons being particularly underwhelming. All things considered Celtic look to have done well with the transfer fee on this occasion. A decent fee for a player not in the clubs long term plans.

All views expressed on Celtic DNA are personal opinions and are for commentary and discussion purposes only

🔗 Missed this article?

Celtic’s transfer window activity exploded on Tuesday with several deals close to being completed both in and out of the club. Manager Martin O’Neill stated that the club were still looking for several new additions after last week’s disappointing collapse in Austria.

With the Scottish transfer window open till Thursday, here are the deals supposedly taking place.

1. Oliver Sørensen - It’s official

Celtic announced the signing of 24 year old Danish midfielder Oliver Sørensen from Italian side Parma this afternoon. Crucially, the club announced his arrival as a season long loan with an option to buy. Manager Martin O’Neill described Sørensen as being full of energy and stated that he can play a number of positions for the club. Deal confirmed.

2. Joel van den Berg - arrives in Glasgow

Celtic are supposedly close to announcing a deal for PSV youngster Joel van den Berg. The 19 year old arrived in Glasgow at the same time as Sørensen last night. Celtic are reportedly paying £3.4 million to bring the young midfielder to the Scottish Champions.

3. Gvidas Gineitis - Celtic make new offer

Celtic have reportedly made a new offer for the Lithuanian central midfielder after it looked like they had moved on to other targets. Now a new offer for the 22 year old could be enough to bring the Torino man to Celtic Park. It’s possible a fee of around £8 million could be enough to complete a deal Wednesday.

4. Shim Mheuka - Arrives in Glasgow

Chelsea youth striker Shim Mheuka has arrived in Glasgow after completing a medical today in London. The Premier League 2 Player of the Year has agreed a one season loan with no option to buy. Celtic will likely announce his arrival on Wednesday. The Chelsea striker scored an impressive 18 goals in 19 games in last season’s Premier League 2 campaign.

TL- Celtic were not expected to be in the market for another striker. However the Chelsea forward’s record is hard to ignore and will be a welcome addition to the front line for Celtic boss Martin O’Neill.

5. Sam Johnstone - Arrives at Lennoxtown

It’s being reported that Sam Johnstone arrived at Lennoxtown today ahead of a season long loan from English Championship side Wolves. Celtic have been in the market for a goalkeeper to challenge Sinisalo after the departure of experienced keeper Kasper Schmeichel. Deal not announced yet but it’s expected he’ll be confirmed as a Celtic player shortly.

6. Landon Emenalo - Club yet to announce

Fans have been waiting for Celtic to confirm the loan signing of Chelsea fullback Emenalo for several weeks. Celtic have yet to announce the cover for Kieran Tierney despite the youngster being shown round Lennoxtown weeks ago. Sky Sports say they expect Celtic to formally announce the deal shortly. Another straight loan with no option to buy.

7. Justin Devenny — Celtic look set to miss out

Celtic had been linked with a move for the Crystal Palace midfielder Justin Devenny in recent days. Despite Celtic’s interest in a loan deal, the Scottish born player has completed a move to English Championship side Stoke City.

8. Johnny Kenny - Signs for Preston North End

Celtic striker Johnny Kenny is one player who looks to have left the club on a permanent deal late in the window. Despite saying he wanted to stay and fight for his position at the club, Celtic accepted a bid of around £3million for Kenny from Championship club Preston North End on the last day of the transfer window. Deal confirmed.

9. Reo Hatate - Leaves Celtic for Burnley

Celtic have confirmed Hatate has left the club on a permanent deal to Championship side Burnley.

What happens next?

Celtic’s transfer window doesn’t close till Thursday 5th September. However, any signing they want part of the Europa League squad needs to be in before the squad announcement Wednesday night.

It’s expected that Celtic could announce another five or six deals tomorrow, with several being on loan. Whether Martin O’Neill has the quality he wanted when the window closes is yet to be seen.

Many fans will be asking the question they ask every year. Why leave it so late to complete the transfer business?

All views expressed on Celtic DNA are personal opinions and are for commentary and discussion purposes only

🔗 Missed this article?

🤝 This article is sponsored by Pops and Promos : Create A Pro Wrestler

Kids Pro Wrestling Drawing Book

👉 Find it Here

It has been confirmed that Reo Hatate has left Celtic for English Championship side Burnley. It was rumoured that the Japanese midfielder was close to going to Birmingham, however it’s the team from the north west that has secured him instead. Celtic officially thanked Reo for his time at the club and wished him well for the future. He leaves on a permanent deal but no fee has been confirmed yet.

All views expressed on Celtic DNA are personal opinions and are for commentary and discussion purposes only

🔗 Missed this article?

🤝 This article is sponsored by Pops and Promos : Create A Pro Wrestler

Kids Pro Wrestling Drawing Book

👉 Find it Here

Celtic may have until Thursday to conduct their transfer business but the window is due to close at 11pm tonight in England. That brings into question Reo Hatate’s future. Where will the Japanese midfielder end up after being linked to an unknown English Championship side today.

Time is running out for him to complete a permanent move or a loan ahead of the 11pm deadline. If a move to Englands second tier fails to materialise, where will the Celtic midfielder end up? Here are the options.

Time is running out for England

Reports have linked Hatate with a move to an unnamed Championship club, believed to be Birmingham City who are coached by ex Celtic Assistant Chris Davies. West Ham also showed an interest in the midfielder early in the window before purchasing Arne Engels. Hatate has mentioned previously about wanting to compete at a higher level in one of the top five leagues. It’s yet to be seen whether Hatate would want to take the move to the second tier of English football but the midfielder is running out of time and options. If Hatate is to move to England then it’ll need to happen in the next couple of hours.

Could Hatate return to Japan instead?

Reo has also been linked to a return to the J League in Japan so a move to the homeland is certainly an option. That would go against his wishes for a top five league club though. That deal would not need to be completed tonight.

Where else could he move?

Hatate supposedly rejected moves earlier in the window to clubs in both Greece and the US. Seemingly holding out for that top five league move that has so far failed to materialise. Some countries still have a few days to go like Belgium and Turkey. So it’s possible he ends up somewhere in Europe other than England.

Could he be staying at Celtic?

Most fans would have thought Reo was guaranteed to leave the club this summer. With two years on his contract, the club will be looking to recoup some sort of fee for him, although they might now have to settle for a loan move. It seems unlikely that Hatate stays at Celtic this season, given his desire for a new challenge and the amount of midfielders that have been brought to the club this summer.

The clock is ticking if the Japanese forward wants a move to England. Otherwise we’ll see what happens over the next few days.

All views expressed on Celtic DNA are personal opinions and are for commentary and discussion purposes only

🤝 This article is sponsored by Pops and Promos : Create A Pro Wrestler

Kids Pro Wrestling Drawing Book

👉 Find it Here

Arne Engels has yet to win over large sections of the West Ham fans following his move from Celtic this summer. The Belgian has featured in two league matches for his new club and they have failed to win either one.

Celtic fans may be looking at West Ham’s reaction and think they got a good deal for the former Ausburg player with all things considered.

The fan reaction following West Ham’s 1-1 draw with Watford suggests Engels still has some way to go if he wants to be considered a fans favourite moving forward.

What West Ham fans are saying about Arne Engels

See fan comments from X below.

Still early days for Arne

To be fair, there are West Ham fans who feel like the Belgian needs more time to settle in before he can be judged on his performances. However, large sections seem completely unconvinced by him.

Celtic fans will know Engels has quality but his form in the Hoops was very hit and miss. Supporters will understand the Hammers fanbase being underwhelmed by what they’ve seen from the Belgian so far. Every move has a risk of not working out for one reason or another. Hopefully Engels turns the corner quickly and manages to establish himself in the West Ham side sooner rather than later.

Opinion

It was always a strange move for Engels considering some of the names that were mentioned as having an interest in him. Maybe a move to Lazio or something similar in Serie A would have suited him better. Not sure I see a physical league like the Championship being a good fit for him. Can see him going missing on occasion like he did for Celtic. No doubting his quality, especially from set pieces so hopefully he settles down and starts performing if we have a decent sell on.

All views expressed on Celtic DNA are personal opinions and are for commentary and discussion purposes only

🔗 Missed this article?

Celtic sold Arne Engels to West Ham for a reported £22 Million fee. An English Championship record, but how much did Celtic actually make from that deal?

How much did Celtic originally pay for Arne Engels?

Celtic paid German side Augsburg a reported £11 million for the Belgian international. Smashing Celtic’s previous record for the signing of Odsonne Edouard, who was bought from PSG for a reported £9 million in 2018.

The Augsburg sell-on clause

It’s been reported by Sky that Celtic agreed a 10% sell on clause with Ausburg for the total sale price once Engels left Celtic. So that would be an additional £2.2 million for the German side since Engels left to West Ham for £22 million.

So how much profit did Celtic actually make?

If reports are to be believed, it looks like Celtic’s profit was around £8.8 million pounds. That’s when you remove the original fee and reported sell on that is due to Ausburg.

• West Ham fee: £22m

• Original Celtic purchase: approximately £11m

• Reported Augsburg sell-on: approximately £2.2m

• Estimated transfer profit: approximately £8.8m

Was Arne Engels good business for Celtic?

I think it’s not a particularly great deal when the club you bought a player from has made more on the deal than you have. On this occasion, Ausburg seem to have made around £13.2 million while Celtic have banked roughly £8.8 million. Fans will probably have expected Engels to go for more when the club invested such a huge amount in him. Truthfully though, his performances in the hoops never really reached the heights we had hoped for. It’s somewhat disappointing to be receiving less than the club were offered by Notts Forrest in January who reportedly bid £25 million for the Belgian midfielder.

All views expressed on Celtic DNA are personal opinions and are for commentary and discussion purposes only

🔗 Missed this article?

We now know the teams Celtic will have to play in the Europa League - League Phase this season. The draw handed Martin O’Neill’s side a tough range of fixtures with several different challenges. There are certainly a few teams you would expect to draw in the Champions League rather than the Europa League.

Marseille, Ferencváros, Celta Vigo and Beşiktaş will head to Celtic Park, while Benfica, Union Saint-Gilloise, Omonia and Torreense will face Celtic at their grounds.

Several big games await Celtic in the draw, including some great away days for the Hoops fans. Here is our ranking of all eight opponents rated from most tricky to the games that should be more straightforward on paper.

1. Benfica (Away)

Benfica away is likely to be the toughest tie on paper. The Portuguese giants were a pot 1 side and one of the toughest teams they could have drawn away from home in this tournament. They certainly made light work of Hearts during qualification. Coming up against the team from Lisbon allows the Celtic fans a chance to visit the city where the lions famously won the European cup. If Celtic take anything from the tie it will be a good result. Easier points to be gained elsewhere.

Difficulty rating: Very Difficult

2. Marseille (Home)

Another high spending European side with a strong squad on paper. There is a better chance of getting a result from the 2nd Pot 1 team since they play the game at Celtic Park rather than the Velodrome. A tough game yes but one that Celtic can realistically take something from in front of 60,000 fans. A big time fixture between two big European names.

Difficulty rating: Difficult

3. Beşiktaş (Home)

Beşiktaş is one of those difficult teams with a strong reputation in Europe. Martin O’Neill will be delighted the tie is at Celtic Park rather than away in Turkey. A result is achievable but it wouldn’t surprise you to see the big spending Turkish side win at Celtic Park. If Celtic have had a good tournament I would suspect they beat Beşiktaş along the way. There is quality in the Beşiktaş ranks but Celtic can beat them at home if they turn up and perform on the night.

Difficulty rating: Difficult

4. Celta Vigo (Home)

A similar fixture to the one against Beşiktaş, and one that Celtic can win. Yes they bring La Liga quality to Celtic Park but it’s not a fixture Celtic should fear. One of the most difficult teams Celtic could have drawn out of Pot 3. It will mark a return to Celtic Park for former Celt Carl Starfelt. Celta are a familiar team that Martin O’Neill beat on the way to the UEFA Cup final in 2003. Hopefully we see a repeat result this time round. Winnable fixture

Difficulty rating: Somewhat difficult

5. Union Saint-Gilloise (Away)

A classic fixture where you think Celtic should be getting a result but usually don’t. No reason why Celtic cannot go to Belgium and get a point at least. Tony Bloom has done well building the former Belgian champions but it’s not a fixture Celtic should fear. Tricky tie away from home. Martin O’Neill will be thinking Celtic can go there and get a result.

Difficulty rating: Somewhat difficult

6. Ferencváros (Home)

Pot 2 side along with Celtic. The Hungarian side will be no mugs when they visit Celtic Park. Not an easy game but one Celtic should be looking to win if they want to do well in this tournament. Ferencváros showed last season they can be a threat in the Europa League when they beat Rangers. They also beat Celtic in a recent Champions League qualifier so not a team to take likely but one Celtic should win at home.

Difficulty rating: Winnable Game

7. Omonia Nicosia (Away)

One of the away fixtures that Celtic should be looking for three points. The team from Cyprus cannot be underestimated but it’s certainly a fixture Celtic can look to win. Martin O’Neill can ask Neil Lennon about the side after the former Celtic captain had a spell managing them out in Cyprus a couple of years ago. On paper, Celtic are the stronger side. This is one they need to win if they have aspirations of climbing the table and qualifying for the next stage. Difficult trip with good atmosphere, but a game Celtic can win.

Difficulty rating: Winnable Game

8. Torreense (Away)

The easiest game on paper. Torreense will play European football from the second division of the Portuguese league after winning the Portuguese Cup against Sporting last season in a stunning upset. If Celtic have ambitions for a strong performance in the Europa League then this is one they must take advantage of. Three points is needed from a game that takes Celtic back to Portugal for a second time this campaign. Celtic have enough to get the job done out in Portugal.

Difficulty rating: A game Celtic should be winning

How many points should Celtic be targeting?

Celtic should be aiming to finish in the top 8 of the league phase this season. To do so, they will need to be aiming for around 15 points. There is a genuine mixture of heavyweight opposition and games Celtic should be winning. If they have a good tournament the 15 points they need is possible. This should be the goal.

To qualify, Celtic need to take advantage of the home games. Beating the likes of Celta Vigo, Ferencváros and Besiktas. Added to wins away at both Omonia and Torreense, the Hoops would be there. 10 points would be the aim for the knockout playoffs. This should be the minimum.

There is certainly the chance for Celtic to put the Champions League playoff disaster behind them. With new signings in the door before the window closing the foundation is there for Celtic to have a strong tournament. As always, it requires the club to get off to a strong start. Will they?

What do you think of the draw? Can Celtic qualify from these fixtures?

All views expressed on Celtic DNA are personal opinions and are for commentary and discussion purposes only

Celtic return to domestic action this Saturday afternoon after the midweek heartbreak of exiting the Champions League to Austrian side LASK. The Hoops will be hoping they can bounce back domestically with a strong performance and positive result against Falkirk at Celtic Park.

There is no time to dwell on the midweek disaster as the club looks to go 8 points clear of Rangers before their trip to Pittodrie.

Here is everything you should know ahead of the game at Celtic Park this weekend.

What time is kick off?

A rare 3pm kick off at Celtic Park today, Saturday Aug 29. Celtic will look to continue their perfect start after winning their first two domestic games so far.

Celtic team news

Alistair Johnston and Jota remained sidelined. However the manager is likely to have some decisions to make around team selection with several players coming off injured midweek.

The manager confirmed that captain Callum McGregor missed training due to illness, so it is to be seen whether he will make it into the starting 11 this weekend.

The club will see how the likes of CCV and Kasper Høgh are after picking up knocks on Tuesday night. It might be an opportunity for the manager to bring the likes of Liam Scales and Haissem Hassan into the team at Celtic Park.

How have Falkirk started the season?

John McGlynn’s side arrive at Celtic Park searching for their first league win and their first Premiership goal of the new campaign.

Falkirk opened their season with a 2-0 defeat against St Mirren before playing out a 0-0 draw against Motherwell. Leaving them with one point from their opening two matches. Falkirk will no doubt hope that Celtic show signs of vulnerability after a demoralising defeat midweek.

Celtic vs Falkirk prediction

Celtic still go into the game as strong favourites despite the disaster midweek. With something to prove to the supporters and manager, you’d think the team bounces back with a conformable home win. The match does have the potential to become difficult if the team do not start well and the fans get restless. Especially if Falkirk go ahead. It is also to be seen whether the fans protest in any way against the board and whether that has an impact on the team.

Prediction: Celtic 3-0 Falkirk.

A couple of days have now passed since Celtic completely collapsed against LASK, in what will go down as one of the most embarrassing days in the club’s history.

The players and management cannot simply dust themselves down and go again. Lessons have to be learnt to stop this cycle from repeating itself.

Here are five lessons we think Celtic must learn after their Champions League Playoff defeat to LASK.

1. Certain players in the current squad cannot be relied upon

If Celtic want to rebuild then they have to learn from the fundamental mistakes the club is making. They cannot keep going into these big games with players who aren’t good enough to play for Celtic. The club needs to sign players good enough for Scotland and European football at the same time. Those in charge must re-evaluate what it is to be a Celtic player. The likes of McCowan, Ralston, Murray, Tounetki and others are simply not Celtic class. As harsh as that sounds, we must revamp the squad to have genuine quality in each position. The players coming off the bench are as important as the ones starting the games if we want to progress. Genuine squad depth and competition for places is needed in every position.

2. Callum McGregor cannot play no.6 for Celtic in Europe

Callum has been a fantastic servant to Celtic and still has plenty to offer the team moving forward. He has been an outstanding player and remains capable of contributing significantly to this team. However, the club need to seriously consider whether he is the best option for the no.6 position long term. What happened in LASK has to be a wake up call.

Yes he has the ability to dictate play and get the ball moving, but Tuesday night showed us he no longer has the legs needed for that position. Too many times their forwards were able to step into his area and get a shot away. Celtic need a physical, athletic type in the base of midfield who can break up play and get around the pitch. McGregor is fine domestically. I’m talking about for European games. O’Neill should seriously consider pushing McGregor one up into the no8 role Hatate previously occupied. Have him involved further up the field instead of trying to protect the midfield like Scott Brown would. McGregor still has a lot of quality to offer but it shouldn’t be in that holding role moving forward. Especially in the big European games.

3. Celtic need another goalkeeper

This is something we already knew before the game, but it was confirmed Tuesday night. Celtic desperately need another goalkeeper through the door before the end of the transfer window. Sinisalo could have done better with a few of the goals from distance on Tuesday and needs real competition. Whether he is to remain the No.1 moving forward this season remains to be seen. Either way, Celtic need a quality goalkeeper that’s capable of challenging for the jersey this season. Two capable, quality goalkeepers are needed for the long season ahead.

4. Stop treating Høgh like a traditional target man

This is something Celtic need to learn quickly. Kasper Høgh is not a traditional target man. The team will not keep possession by sending long balls for him to control. From what I’ve seen, the Danish striker comes alive in behind teams, however he can also contribute by coming deep and getting involved in play during the build up, like he did away to Kilmarnock. At no point has he looked comfortable trying to win headers or hold the ball up, it just doesn’t seem his or our natural game. Nothing would stick for him against LASK and it was the same against Dundee in the season opener at Celtic Park. It looks like you will get the best out of the new signing by allowing him to come deep and get involved in the build up before spinning off behind the defence. Which will be challenging with how many teams sit in. We must learn from how he operated at Bodo and work to his strengths this season.

5. Celtic’s strategy with Hassan makes no sense

This is the biggest lesson the club needs to learn from the farce that was Tuesday night. We need to start bringing in players well in advance of the Champions League play-offs. Players need time to settle and learn how to play with their team mates before the biggest games of the year. The fact that we are bringing in key signings just before or after these games is crazy. A forward thinking club would sign players in January or even last summer for this season’s Champions League.

For Celtic to have a £9 million winger come through the door days before these games and not be in a position to contribute is staggering.The situation with Hassan highlights everything that is wrong with Celtic’s transfer strategy. We know when the qualifiers are every season. Where is the long-term planning? Players need to be identified and in the door early, ready to contribute to our biggest and most lucrative games of the season.

Celtic must analyse failings and act

Celtic must learn real lessons from Tuesday night’s collapse and make the changes needed to ensure we never go six out of six qualifiers without winning again. Fundamentally the strategy does not work. Staying ahead of Rangers is not success for the majority of the fan base. The sooner the club realise it needs fundamental change in how it operates the better.

All views expressed on Celtic DNA are personal opinions and are for commentary and discussion purposes only

Celtic captain Callum McGregor faced the music Tuesday night by completing media duties after the catastrophic collapse his team made against LASK.

He did what you would expect, he faced the angry Celtic support and the criticism that was coming the team’s way after such a disastrous performance and result.

Here’s why those in charge of Celtic must do the same.

Celtic executives must face fans

The fans deserve to hear from those running the club on why they chose to gamble with qualification once again. Communication is non-existent but this is a time they cannot afford to stay quiet. If they say nothing then things will quickly escalate into the farce of last season. We simply cannot allow things to go down that route again.

The Celtic board should want to take the opportunity to update supporters and keep everyone onside as much as possible. The alternative option breads contempt. Someone from upper management, preferably the CEO, needs to come out and apologise for what went on this week. Things are that bad.

They need to clearly lay out the plan for the rest of the season to show the supporters they aren’t taking them for granted. The club should apologise and assure the fans they are going all out to deliver quality signings that can help achieve all their goals this season. They must deliver the additional signings O’Neill needs to try and stop this season going into a spiral of despair.

They simply must acknowledge their responsibility and tell the supporters what the club are going to do to make it right. They cannot leave it to MON and McGregor to face the negativity and questions every time there’s a press conference. That’s not leadership.

The players deserve criticism – but it’s the same old failings from above

There is no one person or group to blame for Tuesday night. The blame is a collective between the players, the management team and the executives. We need to see real accountability and strategy or there is serious risk of the season derailing again like last year. The new signings brought somewhat of a feel good factor back to the club but that appears to have been evaporated by one horrendous night in Linz.

Six failed qualifiers in a row is an embarrassment for the club and should trigger some sort of inquest into why this keeps happening over and over.

The fans deserve answers

Yes, the fans deserve an apology but more importantly they deserve answers. Ultimately though, the executive team are not coming forward. The optics of how they keep asking for the fans money but don’t show any long term plan for the club comes across as arrogant. They should look to control the narrative and address the fans directly, while highlighting what they are going to do to fix it. Show the fans the club are doing everything to head in the right direction long term. Right now it looks like the only plan is to keep risking Champions League qualification while winning the title domestically. Europe seems a complete afterthought in the club boardroom. Now is the time to step forward before the fans anger turns to apathy.

Leadership means taking responsibility

Fair play to the captain Callum McGregor. He faced up to this responsibility and made it clear that this wasn’t good enough from the players. Now it’s time for the Celtic CEO to do the same. The fans are hurting and feel like they are being taken for a ride. Time for the executive team to face this music and explain exactly what is going wrong and how they plan to do to rectify it. The Celtic fans won’t continue to let the club go down the same path it’s been heading down for years. This is the boards last chance to put forward a credible plan for change.

All views expressed on Celtic DNA are personal opinions and are for commentary and discussion purposes only

🔗 Missed this article?

Last night was a disaster on several levels for Celtic, who have had more than their fair share of disappointing nights in Europe. Watching the second half, you could see the team sleepwalking into another nightmare European result. Yes, we have lost to worse teams in the past, but I think there is a strong case to say that this was Celtic’s worst ever result, all things considered.

The mentality of the team

Firstly give credit to LASK. Their mentality was strong all week. From the comments in the press to the fans getting behind their team in the stadium, they believed they could turn the tie around and Celtic gave them all the encouragement in the world to do so. There is quite clearly a mentality issue at the club that has spanned several teams and several managers. Domestically, they find was to keep going until the last minute, but in Europe they find new ways to self destruct.

The club have failed us once again

The level of player coming off the bench last night was terrible. Each substitution made us weaker than before. Most fans would have agreed before the match that the squad depth was extremely poor and needed a major rebuild in the summer. The likes of Tounekti, McCowan, Ralston and Murray shouldn’t wear the Celtic shirt again. They are miles off the level that the club needs to move forward.

Engels and Maeda being allowed to leave before the qualifier is another example of the squad mismanagement we see year after year. If you want to ensure that new players are bedded in for the qualifiers, then you need to do your business in January - not weeks before the biggest game of the season. Everything from the club seems extremely last minute. As Rodgers famously said, the club manufactures its own stress. This just has to change.

O’Neill deserves criticism

It’s not all on the board though. Celtic clearly had enough on the pitch to get the job done last night. Hogh, Nygren and Duran were awful, but taking off Nygren seemed a strange decision at the time. Withdrawing the club’s major goal threat when we needed a goal to kill the tie didn’t make sense. The level of game management we saw from O’Neill during the 120 minutes only invited more pressure onto the players. Bringing on Tounektii and McCowan did nothing to stem the relentless attacks. With both giving the ball away constantly, we knew these players are not at the level needed, yet we keep relying on them in the big games. Why? Forrest, Osmand and Hassan were options that could have taken the pressure off further up the field. The squad went into its biggest games of the season underprepared again. Yet the manager did not manage the game well with the options available. It was as if the team were just waiting to concede and management didn’t have the necessary answers.

This HAS to be the catalyst for real change

This cycle of ownership has to end. The club needs fresh leadership, fresh ideas and drive. Until the current structure is replaced, we will face the same hurdles each year at qualifiers. How many times does the squad go into these games under prepared, willing to gamble everything? This is a strategic decision by those running the club. It’s a choice they make each year. The club is not set up to thrive on these occasions, and the negativity seeps into the performances every single year. Until the club injects fresh leadership and fresh thinking, we will see the same results every August. The time for change is now. This is the worst result in the club’s history, all things considered. Now it must be the catalyst for real, meaningful change.

Here’s how you can watch the match tonight.

What time does LASK v Celtic kick off?

LASK v Celtic kicks off at 8pm UK time tonight, Tuesday, August 25.

The match takes place at the Raiffeisen Arena in Linz, Austria.

What Channel is LASK v Celtic on?

The game can be streamed live on Amazon Prime.

Coverage is scheduled to start at 19.30

What’s at stake tonight?

If Celtic see off LASK in the second leg they will qualify for the league phase of the Champions League. Potentially earning £40 million pounds in prize money and ticket sales.

LASK v Celtic at a glance

Competition: UEFA Champions League
Date: Tuesday, August 25
Kick-off: 8pm UK time
Venue: Raiffeisen Arena, Linz
First-leg result: Celtic 3-0 LASK
Channel: Amazon Prime

All views expressed on Celtic DNA are personal opinions and are for commentary and discussion purposes only

🔗 Missed this article?

Celtic take a healthy 3-0 lead to Austria tonight ahead of the Champions League playoff second leg against LASK. Manager Martin O’Neill has decisions to make ahead of the game in Linz.

Who exactly is available and who is not ahead of the second leg tonight? Celtic DNA analyses the team news ahead of the big game.

Auston Trusty - Expected to be available

Auston Trusty looked like he might be a doubt for the game after he missed the final training session before the squad flew out to Austria last night.

However, Martin O’Neill gave a positive update in his pre match press conference. The manager stated that Trusty missed the training session due to illness and not injury. The USA international travelled to Austria with the squad and is expected to be available for selection tonight. A boost for the club after Trusty started the season relatively well along side CCV.

Alistair Johnston - Remains out

Martin O’Neill also confirmed that Alistair Johnston’s scan suggests that the defender will be out of action until October. Meaning Celtic will have to look towards the market for a short term replacement. The news will be seen as a blow for the club with big domestic and European games coming up. Donovan stepping up with a big performance last week in the first leg will go someway to comfort the manager.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain - Still suspended

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is also still unavailable.

The midfielder is half way through serving a three game ban from his time at Turkish side Besiktas. Leaving the club somewhat short in the middle of the park even with the introduction of new signing Baur. Maybe we will see more from Reo Hatate in the tie despite being linked with a move away.

Jota - Still unavailable

Jota remains on the comeback trail but there is currently no timeline for his return. Fans are desperate to see him back in the hoops but his return to full fitness must be managed carefully. Hopefully we see Jota back in time to play in Champions League games should the club qualify tonight.

O’Neill still has strong options

Despite those absences, Celtic still have strong options, particularly in the forward areas of the pitch. It was Nygren and Duran who helped score the goals in the commanding home win last week. Martin O’Neill will hope they can help fire his side to a similar result in the second leg also. Celtic know that scoring over in Austria will all but kill the tie and the club will be confident that they have the players available to finish the job and qualify for the league phase of the competition.

All views expressed on Celtic DNA are personal opinions and are for commentary and discussion purposes only

🔗 Missed this article?

Arne Engels made his debut for West Ham in a 2-1 home defeat to Charlton this afternoon. There was certainly substantial interest in how the former Celtic man would perform for the Hammers after a drawn out transfer saga lasting most of the summer. The West Ham fans were keen to see how Engels would fit into their team in his first appearance at The London Stadium. Judging by some of the comments on X the West Ham faithful were not impressed by their new £22 million signing.

West Ham fans react to Arne Engels performance

Much of the reaction online seemed to be negative. Some of it directed at Engels.

A difficult start for Engels

No doubt a tough start for Engels at the London club. It’s yet to be seen how he copes with the pressure in East London since West Ham are expected to bounce straight back to the EPL this season. He certainly took a while to settle at Celtic before putting in some strong performances in the Hoops. However he always was some what inconsistent in the green and white and many fans are happy with the deal the club got for the Belgian. Maybe things will improve for Arne but he hasn’t got off to a good start down in England.

Celtic supporters will find this interesting

Engels was known at Celtic for his set pieces and penalty taking. Interestingly, Engels appeared to be on corners but not penalties for the Hammers. West Ham won a penalty late on in the game and had a chance to salvage a point from the game. Engels did not get the nod and West Ham were unable to score the penalty, losing the opening game of the campaign to Charlton 2-1. Maybe things would have been different if Engels took the penalty.

All views expressed on Celtic DNA are personal opinions and are for commentary and discussion purposes only

🔗 Missed this article?

Benjamin Nygren has started the season in excellent form with four goals in as many games. Celtic fans are certainly enjoying the Swedes performances since linking up with Kasper Høgh at the top end of the field. The question supporters are now asking is can Celtic hold on to the goalscorer until the window closes? Nygren was previously linked to the likes of Tottenham and Everton and clubs must be paying attention to the level of form he has carried on into the new season. In addition to his goalscoring, Nygren is now contributing considerably towards open play, which will make him one of the most valuable players at the club and one of the first names on the team sheet. Making Celtic’s apparent interest in Bosnian international Ermin Mahmic both extremely exciting and terrifying at the same time.

What would Mahmic’s arrival mean?

On the face of it Celtic’s interest in Ermin Mahmic is incredibly exciting. A young, dynamic, goalscoring, attacking midfielder who made his mark on the World Cup with his two goals. Exactly the kind of player the fans have asked the club to target. A player who looks ready to contribute now and still has further development in him. The young midfielder certainly looks a good fit for Celtic and with the club needing strong options in midfield it makes sense. However, the cynic in me doesn’t see Celtic paying for two quality no10 options in midfield. Would Celtic be paying out a reported £7-£8Million without the prospect of selling Nyrgren this window? If we don’t sell the Swede and the club are genuinely strengthening the position for the season ahead then O’Neill will believe he’s been given the tools to achieve something special this season. Losing Nygren at this stage when we look so devastating going forward would be a huge blow.

Nygren has started the season brilliantly

The criticism from a section of the fans was that Nygren contributed goals but not a lot else last season. Something that cannot be labelled at the Swede this term. After a relatively poor World Cup by his standards he has started the season on fire in a Celtic shirt. Nygren’s goalscoring ability cannot be doubted but now that he is contributing to open play he’s becoming a real strong asset to the team. He’s one of the key players the fans will be hoping the club can keep hold of this transfer window.

Hopefully Celtic are simply adding quality

Celtic should be building a quality squad full of several players for each position. Players that can step in and make the difference when needed. Hopefully that’s what Celtic are doing. Which would signal a change in transfer strategy at the club.

A progressive forward thinking club would bed in another attacking player this season incase a big money offer comes in for Nygren next year. Like the club did with Edouard and Dembele, that’s the way it should operate every window and for every position. Nygren must be attracting interest from the performances he’s put in this season. However the club needs to stand firm and give O’Neill the tools he needs to compete at Champions League level this season. That includes keeping hold of quality players like Nygren and further strengthening the squad in key positions. Mahmic looks like he would be a quality signing for the club, hopefully it’s to play with Nygren not replace him.

All views expressed on Celtic DNA are personal opinions and are for commentary and discussion purposes only

🔗 Missed this article?

Sky Sports are reporting that Celtic are close to completing a deal to bring Chelsea left back Landon Emenalo to the club on a season long loan.

Anthony Joseph stated Celtic are expected to complete a deal for the 18 year old on a straight loan for the season ahead, with no option to buy.

Emenalo is believed to have picked up a knock in training and needed time to recover before the two clubs could finish the paperwork around his move to Scotland. The youngster was shown around the club’s training facilities last week.

Who is Landon Emenalo?

Emenalo is an exciting 18 year old left back from the Chelsea youth academy.

Known for his tactical intelligence and composure on the ball, Emenalo is a versatile player who could help provide cover in midfield and centre back as well as his usual left back role. The move will be welcome news to O’Neill who has been playing Scales at left back when Tierney needed rested.

The manager had been linked with moves for the likes of Greg Taylor and Dundee United’s Will Ferry after looking for competition for Kieran Tierney. It now looks like the club have decided to add Emenalo on loan in a move that echos the deal that brought Alex Valle in from Barcelona a couple of seasons back.

Emenalo is clearly well thought of at Chelsea. The London club are keen for the fullback to continue his development with first team football. Whether he gets game time at Celtic is yet to be seen, with Tierney one of the first names on the team sheet when fit.

Tic Talk - Tim Lisbon’s Opinion

I personally thought the club would have looked to bring in another left back on a permanent deal instead of developing another team’s player without an option to buy. It appears that Martin O’Neill has prioritised Emenalo’s versatility to help cover a few positions and take away the need for another centre half. Personally, I would have had a look at Dundee Utd’s Will Ferry after his strong performances this season. However, bringing in Emenalo does make sense as it allows them to tick a box and focus on concluding other deals for key positions elsewhere. The club and manager must be confident that the youngster has the quality needed to compete for game time moving forward. Let’s hope that’s the case with the team having important domestic and European games coming up in the near future.

All views expressed on Celtic DNA are personal opinions and are for commentary and discussion purposes only

🔗 Missed this article?