O'Neill eyes 'couple of new faces' for Celtic

What the report says

BBC Sport Football reports that Celtic manager Martin O’Neill says the club is advancing efforts to add players before the new Scottish Premiership season, despite renewed criticism from supporters over a quiet summer transfer window. Celtic drew 1-1 with Middlesbrough in a pre-season friendly at Parkhead on Saturday, a match BBC noted was played in front of a low crowd. New striker Camilo Duran, signed from Qarabag, scored Celtic’s equaliser after David Strelec had put Middlesbrough ahead.

Duran is currently Celtic’s only summer signing, but O’Neill said the Scottish champions intend to strengthen the squad and hope to have “a couple” of additions before the league opener. He avoided firm guarantees, pointing to recent transfer setbacks involving striker Kelechi Iheanacho and left-back Marcelo Saracchi.

According to the BBC, Celtic had wanted to keep Iheanacho after his one-year deal ended, but the Nigerian forward instead joined Bursaspor, recently promoted to Turkey’s second tier. O’Neill said Celtic believed an agreement was in place, while also stressing that transfer situations can have more than one side. Chief executive Michael Nicholson has also acknowledged that recruitment has been difficult because Celtic are competing financially with clubs in England’s top two divisions.

O’Neill also addressed Saracchi, who had been on loan from Boca Juniors and had hoped to return to Glasgow. The Uruguayan wrote on Instagram that he and his agent tried to make the move happen, but O’Neill said circumstances meant it was apparently not possible. Celtic begin their Premiership campaign at home to Dundee on 3 August.