Celtic: Former captain Paul Lambert says club ‘nowhere good enough’, but no ‘panic’

Paul Lambert believes former club Celtic are “nowhere good enough” without further recruitment – but has avoided “panic”.

Striker Camilo Duran is the only summer arrival for the Scottish champions, while midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has signed a new deal after a short-term deal last term.

But forward Kelechi Iheanacho and former left-back Loney Marcelo Saracchi, who have been linked with a return, will not return to Glasgow this season.

Iheanacho has joined Bursaspor as a free agent, while Sarachi bid farewell to Celtic fans on social media, saying he and his agent “did absolutely everything in our power to return to Glasgow”.

Additionally, German centre-half Mike Nawrocki has been sold to Lens.

“The squad is not strong enough,” Lambert told BBC Radio Scotland’s Sportsound.

“I’ve seen Celtic, they’re not good enough at the moment, nowhere near that. Everyone recognizes that.

“They will compete, but I don’t think they are strong enough to win (the league) again at the moment. The problems were there last season, so they are not going to change this season.

“The squad was very limited last season. They won’t get away from that – the manager knows that.”