Celtic transfer news: Scottish Premiership champions struggle to compete in market, meeting notes reveal Football News

According to minutes of a meeting between board members and supporters, Celtic are struggling to compete with English Championship clubs in the transfer market and deal with agents.

Celtic have only signed one new player this summer, Colombian striker Camilo DuranThey have signed their first proven forward since the departure of key goalscorer Kyogo Furuhashi for Rennes 18 months ago.

The club’s ongoing difficulties in signing players caused major tension with former manager Brendan Rodgers and rifts with fans last season.

Chairman Brian Wilson, Chief Executive Michael Nicholson and Manager Martin O’Neill attended the Association of Irish Celtic Supporters Clubs Annual General Meeting in Cork recently, where they took part in a short question and answer session with supporters.

Minutes of the meeting have emerged online and say O’Neill told the Celtic board he was in “major need” because his side were not strong enough to compete despite their double-winning “heroism” last term.

Club representatives were asked why the club had been “so slow” in signing players.

The minutes said Nicholson “advised about the difficulty of dealing with agents, competing with the Premier League and even the Championship”.

He added at the July 4 meeting that they are working to sign players who are out of contract.

Celtic have re-signed Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain after his short-term deal last season but there is no sign of an extended deal for Kelechi Iheanacho, whose goals off the bench proved crucial in the latter stages of the season.

O’Neill apparently said the focus was on finding young players who could be developed due to difficulties attracting experienced players to Glasgow due to the financial gap with the Premier League.

The minutes said O’Neill suggested that young players come to Celtic for the chance to play in European football and have drive and ambition before focusing on wages.

The document added that the board had recently signed off on a long-term strategy, aimed at what Nicholson described as the best club in Scotland, financially strong and competitive in Europe.

Celtic host Middlesbrough in a pre-season friendly on Saturday with a number of supporters calling for a boycott of the match amid their ongoing demands for change in the boardroom.

Sutton: Celtic to spend £50m

Chris Sutton believes Celtic may need to spend more than £50m overhauling their squad this summer if they are to retain their Premiership title and challenge for the Champions League.

“Martin did wonders last season. I’ve never seen Celtic win the title from the position he’s been put in on a number of occasions,” he said. Sky Sports News.

“I mean, the run at the end of the season was fantastic but I still think you can’t get away from the fact that Celtic need to make a lot of changes in terms of recruitment.

“They’ve got Champions League qualification which is really important and, as exciting as it was for Celtic fans to get over the line last season, you can’t get away from the fact that Celtic have struggled at times throughout the season. So, Martin will look, I’m sure, to bring in players.

“It will be interesting to see who leaves Celtic. It looks like Rio will go to Hata, maybe Daizen Maeda, Arne Engels but they are big players for the team. So, are Celtic going to replace players like that? I think Celtic will probably have to spend £5m or more because really £5m or more.”

Celtic begin their title defense against Dundee

Celtic begin their Scottish Premiership title defense on August 3, live on Sky Sports.

Monday night’s clash, which kicks off at 7.30pm, will see a groundbreaking opening weekend. Six top-flight games are shown live on Sky Sports the first time

Click here For all of Celtic’s Premiership matches, including the date of the first Old Firm clash this season.