THE LOWDOWN ON EVERY TEAM
CELTIC
IN: Luca Connell (Bolton), Christopher Jullien (Toulouse), Boli Bolingoli-Mbombo (Rapid Vienna), Hatem Abd Elhamed (Hapoel Be’er Sheva), Tobi Oluwayemi (Tottenham).
OUT: Marvin Compper (Duisberg), Mikael Lustig (Gent), Dedryck Boyata (Hertha Berlin), Scott Allan (Hibernian), Wallace Duffy (St Johnstone), Regan Hendry (Raith Rovers), Reece Willison (Airdrieonians), Dylan Forrest (Hamilton), Ross Doohan (loan; Ayr United), Andrew Gutman (loan; Charlotte Independence), Manny Perez (loan; North Carolina), Dorus de Vries, Emilio Izaguirre, Youssouf Mulumbu, Cristian Gamboa.
KEY MAN: JAMES FORREST. The winger was named Player and Players’ Player of the Year last season and may prove the main attacking outlet again, having hit 18 goals and provided 20 assists in all competitions last term.
KEY ADDITION: CHRISTOPHER JULLIEN. Centre-back was an area Celtic desperately needed to strengthen and the champions invested £7million in the Frenchman. For that sort of cash, big things will be expected.
GETTING to nine-in-a-row must surely be the priority for Celtic this season. Fans are divided in their wishes, with some believing that, given ten is within touching distance, the league must be prioritised, while others say the club should be able to compete on the European stage as well. With that in mind, should Celtic reach the group stage of the Champions League, it would be no huge shock to see league and European matches given priority over cup clashes. This could be the season that the title battle goes to the wire, with Rangers having strengthened and, after finally ending their winless run against their Old Firm rivals last season, there will be fresh belief from the other side of the city that they are finally ready to mount a serious title challenge. What does seem improbable is a fourth consecutive Treble. With league and European aspirations at the forefront of everyone involved with the club, most would seem happy to sacrifice cup runs this term should it mean Champions League football and, indeed, securing nine-in-a-row. Manager Neil Lennon has not had the easiest of summers, having had to invest in several positions as well as sustained speculation over the future of Kieran Tierney which does not seem to be ending, despite the Arsenal deal reportedly being dead. However, it would be no shock should a renewed bid transpire later in the window, either from down south or abroad. But the last thing Celtic will want is for the transfer saga to drag on until the end of next month. While they have spent £3m on Boli Bolingoli-Mbombo at leftback, if Tierney’s valuation is met, one would assume a substantial portion of the transfer fee would be available for reinvestment in the squad. Although the return of Leigh Griffiths to first-team action is great news for the club — and Scotland — Lennon may still feel he needs another striker, as well as an extra centre-back to give more competition for places and added strength in depth to challenge on four fronts.