THE BIG SPEND
Celtic, it created a massive gap to fill. Kristoffer Ajer was the young gun who was always going to step into the void with Filip Benkovic going back to Leicester but the Belgian’s loss was big.
That’s where Celtic needed to spend serious money. Same as when they had to spend £9m for Edouard to replace the talisman Moussa Dembele, it was the same trying to replace their top defender.
Cash had to be splashed and it was – £7m for Jullien was a big outlay but he’s paying it back.
Winning goals against Lazio and Rangers in a cup final are the bonus but it’s the defending.
Clean sheet at Hampden. In the last nine games in the league, only two goals have been lost. One to Ross County. The other came against Hamilton when Jullien wasn’t even playing.
He was brilliant at Tynecastle. Strong, physical and nipped issues in the bud. With him doing the business at one end, the creative players did the rest.
Three key areas of the window. Loaning, discovering and spending. All covered. Now I was outspoken at the beginning of the summer because it was too late for Champions League qualifiers.
But, in fairness, Lennon only arrived in the door at the end of February when Brendan Rodgers left and Hammond was after that, so there was no chance of pre-planning and they can’t be faulted.
Better late than never. And the initial evidence from Lennon and Hammond’s relationship shows that you need to have an eye on all of the angles. Having built a squad to get the first trophy of the season and into the last 32 of Europe, the work is well underway for January. Most folk know what’s needed. With Leigh Griffiths working his way back slowly and Vakoun Issouf Bayo not really contributing, a striker has to be sourced. Getting a top-class guy willing to sit on the bench behind Edouard won’t be easy, yet the
Frimpong angle shows Hammond will know of a few from down in England who could be signed and developed if a proven hitman can’t be picked up. Midfield seems fine but a centre-back is maybe needed too. Jullien and Ajer are first picks. Nir Bitton is staying and I like him, he’s solid and a good passer. But every big club needs four in case of injuries and suspension and, sadly, Jozo Simunovic is unreliable in terms of fitness. Lennon seems to like him but a boss needs players to be robust and available. Hatem Elhamed showed at Ibrox he can play centrally but they might need another. Bottom line is Celtic don’t need a whole lot in January. Just some key tweaks and back up.