Martin O’Neill has refused to offer any guarantees over new signings arriving before Monday’s transfer deadline, a stance that is unlikely to ease concern among Celtic supporters as the window enters its final stretch.
Celtic are deep into a demanding run of fixtures, with domestic pressure and European commitments colliding.
The squad has already shown signs of strain, and while results have picked up, the margin for error remains thin. Supporters have been clear for weeks about what they feel is missing, particularly in wide areas and in attacking depth.
So far this window, Celtic’s business has been limited. Julian Araujo and Tomas Cvancara have arrived on loan, but there have been no permanent additions. That has left a sense of drift, especially given the volume of names linked with the club and the public comments from O’Neill about needing quality rather than just numbers.
One of those names is Fares Ghedjemis. Talks with Frosinone have been ongoing, but reports from Italy indicate Celtic view the asking price as too high. That has stalled progress, at least for now. At the same time, Celtic are also in negotiations over Damir Redzic, with discussions taking place at club level as the deadline approaches.
That uncertainty comes despite a positive result on the pitch. Celtic’s win over Utrecht at Celtic Park secured a place in the Europa League knockout play-offs, with the draw set to pit them against either Stuttgart or Ferencváros.
Progression keeps the European campaign alive and adds weight to the need for reinforcements, with knockout football demanding depth as much as quality. The result bought belief and momentum, but it also raised the stakes for the final days of the window.
He said: (TNT Sports), “We’re making progress and we think that we can.
“I think we can move it along now in the next couple of days, so I’m very hopeful that we will get some recruits in.
“It’s like anything else. You’re trying to look for a bit of quality that might, first of all, supplement the squad to improve it, if that’s the case, and that’s what we’re hoping to try and do.
“It’s not been easy. Not just for us. It’s been the same for other clubs, although perhaps Celtic fans think it’s always us. I’ve had transfer windows myself in the past, not at Celtic necessarily, where you’re just twiddling your fingers and seeing the days go past. So we’re trying to do some work and we think we can do it.
“You keep questioning me about guarantees and promises. I can never guarantee anything. I don’t think any of us can in the game, but we’re very, very hopeful.”
Those words will divide opinion. On one hand, O’Neill is being honest about the realities of the market. Deals fall apart quickly. Prices change. Other clubs step in. That much is true. On the other, Celtic are not operating in a vacuum. They have money available, a clear need in the squad, and targets already identified.
The situation around Ghedjemis is a clear example. Celtic like the player. The profile fits what the team lacks on the right. But the valuation has become a barrier. That raises familiar questions about how far the club are willing to stretch when the need is obvious and the window is closing.
Redzic’s case is slightly different. Negotiations are active, and there is still time for that deal to move. But time is exactly what Celtic do not have much of now. Monday’s deadline is approaching fast, and every day without movement sharpens the focus on what has not been done.
O’Neill’s comments about guarantees will not sit comfortably with a support that has heard similar lines before. Hopeful language has often filled the final days of windows, only for deals to collapse or arrive too late to help in the short term.
What complicates matters further is the context on the pitch. Celtic are still fighting on multiple fronts. Injuries and suspensions have tested depth. The need for fresh options is not abstract. It shows up in team selections, substitutions, and late-game fatigue.
If Celtic do land one or two players before Monday, these comments will quickly fade. If they do not, they will be replayed and scrutinised. That is the risk of refusing to offer guarantees when expectations are already high.
For now, the situation remains unresolved. Talks are ongoing. Prices are being debated. Time is slipping away. O’Neill may be right that guarantees are impossible in football. Supporters, though, are less interested in guarantees than outcomes.
The next few days will decide how this window is remembered. Either Celtic push deals over the line, or the frustration deepens. O’Neill has made his position clear. Whether that position is backed with action before Monday is what really matters.
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