Martin O’Neill has delivered a cautious but hopeful update on Celtic’s transfer business as the January window moves into its final days, with supporters still waiting for clarity on where reinforcements will arrive.
Celtic remain active behind the scenes, but the gap between talk and action has become a familiar source of frustration. With the deadline approaching, attention has sharpened on what the club can realistically complete rather than what has been discussed or explored over the past few weeks.
The context on the pitch adds weight to the situation. Celtic’s win over Utrecht secured a place in the Europa League knockout play-offs, but it also showed how thin the squad can look when games stretch and momentum shifts. Injuries, suspensions, and fatigue have forced constant adjustment, leaving little room for error.
Much of the recent focus has been on the right wing. Fares Ghedjemis and Damir Redzic have both been strongly linked, with talks confirmed at club level. Ghedjemis, however, has reportedly become difficult due to the asking price, which Celtic are not prepared to meet as things stand. That has slowed progress and raised questions about where the club turns next.
O’Neill’s latest comments suggest movement is still possible, but he stopped well short of offering any firm assurances. Instead, he leaned into the uncertainty that defines the final stretch of most transfer windows, particularly when prices rise and competition increases.
He said: (BBC Sportsound), “Actually, I think I am (more hopeful than yesterday). There’s been progress today on certain things.
“I don’t want to be too cryptic. I’d hate to say something is absolutely certain and then it fell away.”
Those words will sound familiar to many supporters. Hopeful language has often filled the closing days of windows, only for deals to stall or collapse at the last moment. O’Neill’s reluctance to speak in absolutes reflects that reality, but it also leaves fans reading between the lines.
The situation with Ghedjemis is a clear example. Celtic’s interest is real, but so is their resistance to overpaying. Reports from Italy suggest the valuation is the sticking point, and unless that shifts, the move looks difficult to complete in its current form.
Redzic’s case appears different. Talks are ongoing, and there is a sense that this deal may be more workable within Celtic’s limits. The profile fits a clear need, and the numbers involved are believed to be more manageable. That does not guarantee an outcome, but it explains why attention has drifted in that direction.
What O’Neill’s comments underline is that Celtic are trying to thread a narrow path. They want to improve the squad without distorting it. They want quality rather than bodies. They also want deals that do not create problems further down the line, whether in wages, minutes, or balance.
That balance matters more now than earlier in the window. Celtic are still fighting on multiple fronts, and the addition of European knockout games adds further strain. Any new arrival must be ready to contribute quickly and fit into a group that has had little time to reset.
There is also the wider squad picture. Right wing is one issue, but not the only one. Celtic continue to manage questions around central midfield depth, centre-back cover, and longer-term planning in goal. That makes it harder to justify stretching too far on a single deal.
O’Neill’s reluctance to be definitive is not accidental. Transfer windows change quickly. A price can rise. Another club can step in. A player can hesitate. His comments reflect a desire to avoid promising what cannot be delivered.
For supporters, patience is wearing thin. The need feels obvious. The time is short. Progress without completion does little to calm nerves, especially with recent windows still fresh in the memory.
Still, the tone has shifted slightly. O’Neill saying he is more hopeful than the day before suggests movement, even if he is careful about how far that movement goes. It hints at talks advancing rather than stalling, which is at least something.
The next few days will decide how this window is judged. If Celtic add a player, these comments will be seen as measured honesty. If they do not, they will be revisited with sharper edges.
For now, Celtic remain in talks, weighing options, and watching the clock. O’Neill has made clear he will not deal in certainties. Whether progress turns into a signing before the deadline is the question that still hangs over everything.
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