Like London buses, Celtic‘s summer signings appear to be coming all at once, with the Parkhead hierarchy finally getting their act together ahead of next week’s looming Champions League play-off tie.
The merits of bringing in Camilo Duran and hat-trick hero, Kasper Hogh, have already been laid bare, the hope being that £9m man, Haissem Hassan, can further improve this new-look forward line.
The fleet-footed Egyptian has since been joined in Glasgow by Paderborn’s Mika Baur, yet the Hoops aren’t stopping there, with key areas in the squad still needing to be addressed.
Not every addition can be in the marquee mould of Hogh or Hassan, however – how about a little loan arrival to bolster Martin O’Neill‘s ranks?
Remembering Celtic’s best loan signings of the decade
Bringing in players on a temporary basis has been a fruitful venture for Celtic in recent times, with Ange Postecoglou notably snapping up Jota and Cameron Carter-Vickers on loan in 2021, prior to the pair signing permanently a year later.
For every Oliver Abilgaard or Nat Phillips, there’s a Moritz Jenz or Marcelo Saracchi too, the latter man securing cult status following his stellar cameo on the final day last season.
Who can forget Adam Idah’s initial six-month stint in 2024, the Irishman scoring nine in 19 games, including that Scottish Cup final winner, to seal a £9m permanent switch. The less said about that, the better…
Looking a little further back too, there are those – perhaps like Saracchi – who Hoops supporters may have wished to keep on a little while longer, with Mohamed Elyounoussi sticking out in that sense.
One of the most gifted talents to have lined up in green and white over the past decade, the Norwegian playmaker was masterful between 2019 and 2021, scoring and assisting 39 goals in 67 games in all competitions.
Considering the extended nature of his stay, it almost didn’t feel like a loan, in truth, with it having been a similar story for young Patrick Roberts, following the then-teenager’s arrival in January 2016.
Roberts, a relative unknown at the time of his move, ultimately stayed on board until the summer of 2018, racking up 44 goals and assists in 78 games for the club.
His lack of prior first-team experience wasn’t a significant issue, something that could bode well this summer for Celtic.
How Celtic can repeat their Patrick Roberts success this summer
The forward line looks pretty secure at Parkhead, while Baur’s £6.8m move should freshen up the midfield ranks, softening the blow too in case of Arne Engels’ expected exit.
|
Engels vs Dundee & Kilmarnock |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Dundee |
Stat |
Kilmarnock |
|
90 |
Minutes |
90 |
|
68 |
Touches |
79 |
|
84% |
Pass accuracy |
86% |
|
2 |
Key passes |
5 |
|
0 |
Big chances created |
2 |
|
0 |
Assists |
1 |
|
0/0 |
Succ. dribbles |
0/1 |
|
21 |
Carries |
30 |
|
16 |
Ball lost |
16 |
|
3/7 |
Total duels won |
7/17 |
And yet, the backline still appears in need of strengthening, be it genuine cover or competition for Viljami Sinisalo, alongside an able deputy for Kieran Tierney at left-back.
The expectation had been that Saracchi would stay put in that role, but Celtic could now look to the Premier League instead, amid reports of their interest in Chelsea starlet, Landon Emenalo.
As per Sky Sports reporter, Anthony Joseph, the Hoops are exploring a possible loan move for the teenage full-back, with the 18-year-old one of a number of targets under consideration.
Emanelo is said to have already been in Scotland to visit the Lennoxtown Training Complex, a sign that there is very real interest in getting this deal over the line.
Bringing in a new left-sided full-back certainly is needed considering the injury woes suffered byTierney previously, with it unfair or unwise to rely on the Scotland star alone this season.
Well, Emenalo may well be the perfect, short-term option, the versatile defender – who can play at centre-back or in central midfield – having notably impressed in pre-season this summer in Xabi Alonso’s first-team squad.
The Arizona-born England youth international hasn’t actually made a competitive appearance for the Blues, but he has turned out 33 times at U21 level, registering five assists in 22 Premier League 2 games.
Looking back to the case of Roberts, the diminutive winger was only 18 himself when he rocked up in Glasgow, having made just three senior appearances for Manchester City at the time, alongside just a further 22 for former employers, Fulham.
The gamble well and truly paid off in the case of Roberts, however, as his sparkling talent came to the fore, particularly following Brendan Rodgers’ arrival in 2016.
Emenalo might operate in a different role, but there is an equally as exciting feel about his talent and potential, with his display in Chelsea’s recent meeting with Western Sydney having been particularly eye-catching.
The teenager bombed down the left flank with real pace and power against the Australian outfit, regularly looking to take on his man in impressive fashion.
He’s young and raw, but under the guidance of Tierney and co, Emenalo could emerge as a real star at Parkhead, just as Roberts and co have done before him.
