Martin O’Neill is set to prioritise the addition of new midfielders for Celtic in January, sources have told Football Insider.
The Hoops have been extremely weak in the middle this season, as evidenced by their recent results, and are determined to address their concerns when the window opens.
O’Neill is already making plans for the mid-season window amid a growing feeling signings will be needed if they are to reverse their recent fortunes in the latter half of the season.
As I revealed on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Transfer Insider podcast, Celtic are determined to sign a new midfielder and hope to make moves in the January window.
Despite what had been a strong start, recent results have raised major concerns for Celtic, with their summer transfer failings being pointed to as a reason for their poor turn.
This comes after they missed out on a number of top targets, while Arne Engels was allowed to join West Ham, and O’Neill saw the position significantly weakened.
Are Celtic already regretting their summer transfer failings?
Football Insider reported on 7 October that Celtic will regret their decison not to sign Issa Doumbia, with the midfielder having thrived since his move to Sporting CP in Portugal.
He is not the only midfielder they missed out on, though, as they were also unable to get a deal over the line for Torino star Gvidas Gineitis, who was high on their list of targets.
Those failings have led to a clear weakness in the Celtic squad, and O’Neill is now determined to see those concerns adressed when the January transfer window opens.
Speaking on the Transfer Insider podcast, I explained: “Obviously, Celtic did bring in a lot of players in in the summer window, but Martin O’Neill feels they’re maybe bit weak in certain areas.
“Central midfield is probably the big one for Celtic, that’s going to be their priority and it is a major area of weakness for them.
“With Arne Engels having left to go to West Ham. They probably didn’t replace the Belgian with a like for like replacement, and that’s caused them some problems.
“They brought in Mika Baur but he’s a different type of player. Sorensen came in as well but we haven’t seen the best of him yet.
“They missed out on a few of their targets as well, Gineitis from Torino, wo was a big target for them, so that central midfield area is a position where O’Neill needs to strengthen in January.”
Which midfielders are on Celtic’s radar?
In their attempts to sign a new midfielder in January, Celtic could revisit a player who they missed out on during the summer, with Gineitis still high on their list of targets.
The Torino midfielder’s asking price ultimately saw O’Neill’s side back away from the deal, despite having been extremely keen to bring him to Parkhead.
Football Insider revealed on 23 September that Celtic may now be prepared to reignite their interest in Gineitis if Torino lower their asking price in January.
Gineitis’ agent recently admitted that Celtic’s coaching staff were keen on signing him, but the move broke down because of disagreements at board level.
The Serie A club had placed an asking price of £13million on the midfielder in the summer, but there is a feeling that could change after the turn of the year.
