As we sit at the beginning of July, there have been no new Celtic signings to talk about yet this summer.
Many supporters are slowly but surely becoming frustrated at the lack of activity from the club, and perhaps rightly so.
Pre-season has already begun and the Hoops’ maiden friendly is less than 48 hours away. Despite this, there have been no additions to a double-winning squad.
In previous windows, however, a fair amount of business regarding incomings had been done by this point.
In summer 2019, for example, the club had already shelled out £7m on Chris Jullien, £300,000 on Luca Connell, and £3m on Boli Bolingoli by the time June was out.
A year later, Osaze Urhoghide, Liam Shaw, and Joey Dawson had been signed by the start of July.
Then, as Ange Postecoglou looked to build upon a double-winning side in 2022, he had acquired the permanent services of Benjamin Siegrist, Alexandro Bernabei, and Jota by this point of the summer.
A year later, Brendan Rodgers returned to the helm. Under his stewardship, Odin Holm and Macro Tilio had been signed by this point 12 months ago.
While some of the named transfers didn’t work out, the intent that was previously shown to bring players in early was there.
Indeed, Celtic have signed between two and three players by this point of the summer every year for the past five except Covid.
Whether it be for reasons we don’t know, though, the club seems to have been sluggish this time around.
A deal for Adam Idah might well be in the works and close, but several other positions in the squad need strengthening.
Fans will hope there is an upturn in transfer activity over the next few days and weeks.
And doesn’t that confirm that we are looking at trying to change our plans within the transfer market this summer?
If we want to stick with the younger players from lesser markets, like the scum are currently doing, then yes we possibly would have had a few players added?
But possibly regarded as projects, which we seem to have an obsession with in Scottish football, and we already have enough of these development players within our squad already?
We are potentially looking now for the more experienced players to be added to our squad this summer, well hopefully that’s our objective?
Hence when you add in the age factor of these potential targets, then many of them could be potentially looking at there last big pay day, contract wise?
We can offer a brilliant career opportunity for players, but the wages involved can be a stumbling block for players who still seem to want to be mercenaries regarded wages?
So maybe we are looking for players who really want to be joining our club for footballing reasons and the opportunity available to them in career terms, moreso than using our club as a stepping stone in career terms, or looking for a bigger pay day than they are really worth to ourselves?
Would like to think that we are going to create a far more competitive squad for starting positions within it?
So the easier option would be to go for the younger players?
But don’t think that will be the plans for Rodgers in building the squad for next season imo?
Course it’s frustrating for ourselves with the time involved, but we still aren’t at panic stages by any means yet either?
Possibly have a few targets in mind for each position that Rodgers is looking to strengthen upon imo?
So how long are we preparing to wait upon answers from players and there agents, especially when we aren’t going to be held to ransom over such potential deals?
Still remain relaxed with trying to be patient in hopefully getting our targets that Rodgers is hoping for, moreso than taken the approach of getting player’s who were only square pegs that were trying to be fitted into round holes with ourselves, like last summer imo?
Also have to remember that if a board is backing the manager, and the manager gets it horribly wrong, then it’s his job that will be the first to go also?
That didn’t apply last summer, but different approach this summer by the looks of things, and how we actually do want to bring into the club, especially with CL in mind?
Hopefully by the time this window shuts, we find ourselves in a position, where future windows can be reduced to only a few players involved in merry go round with the number of players coming and going over the summer?
Want to develop far more stability, than a hit and hope approach taken over the past few summers?
Change takes time, but far better for ourselves to get it right, especially with CL in mind moreso imo?
Rodgers is a decent manager, yet it took him over half a season to get ourselves playing at the levels we expect?
Same approach taken this summer, and expect the same results in the CL next season imo?
We need players that can fit automatically into how Rodgers wants to build our squad for the season ahead?
This hoping that they will fit in approach that’s been taken over the past few seasons, had to eventually change, and hopefully this window ends up being a start, to our change in strategy for future summers to come imo?
Patience could be key at this moment in time, regardless of the nerves starting to grow on a daily basis?
Would like to things will become far clearer next week, when pre season really starts to gear up moreso imo?