What was meant to be a mere short-term, emergency appointment has now become well and truly permanent, with Martin O’Neill deservingly rewarded for steering Celtic to a remarkable domestic double last season.
There were whispers that the 74-year-old might move upstairs instead, although having been burned only recently by gambling on a certain Wilfried Nancy, the Parkhead hierarchy have kept faith in the safe, experienced hands of the Irishman.
The veteran coach navigated the chaos to ensure 2025/26 ended on a high, yet the board must ensure that the upcoming campaign kicks off on more stable footing, with recruitment no doubt key to that.
The Glasgow giants can ill-afford a repeat of last year, when new signings were largely shunned until after the Champions League qualifying campaign, a decision that proved fatal in the end.
Thankfully, it does appear that work is being carried out on that front already.
Celtic open talks to sign 20-year-old sensation
First and foremost, the priority this summer has to be the signing of a new centre-forward, with the Hoops getting over the line last term largely thanks to the end-of-season heroics of Daizen Maeda.
In that regard, reports have suggested that the champions are in talks to sign former Hibernian striker, Kieron Bowie, with the Scot only recently making the move to Italy in January.
The Hellas Verona man may well be something of an alternative to another reported target, Elias Filet, with a potential bargain deal there to be had for the French forward.
Reinforcements are also needed on the flanks too, however, with Sky Sports reporter Patrick Berger revealing that Celtic are among the clubs interested in Borussia Dortmund youngster, Cole Campbell.
According to Berger, O’Neill and co have already begun ‘initial talks’ ahead of a potential move for the 20-year-old, with the young American set to leave his current side this summer.
Campbell spent the second half of last season on loan at fellow Bundesliga side, Hoffenheim, although the German outfit aren’t set to trigger their option to buy.
Why Campbell could be another Jota in the making at Celtic
If a deal were to be struck for the young winger, Celtic would seemingly be gambling on a player who hasn’t exactly got a wealth of experience at senior level, having made only 12 appearances for Dortmund and Hoffenheim combined.
He did enjoy a brief stint in Icelandic football, although that spell also only yielded seven senior appearances, with much of his best work coming in the Dortmund youth ranks thus far.
That might be of concern at a time when O’Neill and co can ill-afford another transfer misfire on the flanks – looking at you Michel-Ange Balikwisha – yet the case of Jota should provide reason for optimism.
Indeed, the forgotten man at Celtic Park was previously a sensation in his first spell at the club, the Portuguese speedster initially joining on loan from Benfica in the summer of 2021.
At that stage, Jota had only made 34 senior appearances for Benfica alongside 18 out on loan at Real Valladolid, spending much of his time with the Benfica ‘B’ team instead.
17 goals and assists in 48 games at that level suggested there was a talent there, however, with the now 27-year-old going on to score 28 times in his first 83 games under Ange Postecoglou’s watch.
The emotional homecoming has been wrecked by injury, but it’s easy to forget just what a sensation Jota was between 2021 and 2023, so central to everything good about Postecoglou’s side, be it off the left or right flank.
Jota career record | ||
|---|---|---|
Club | Games | Goals (Assists) |
Celtic | 99 | 33 (28) |
Benfica B | 48 | 9 (8) |
Al-Ittihad | 34 | 2 (3) |
Valladolid | 18 | 2 (0) |
Benfica YL | 17 | 4 (8) |
Rennes | 10 | 1 (1) |
Total | 251 | 56 (49) |
Young Campbell boasts a similarly exciting versatility, as he can feature on either wing, while his own record in Dortmund’s youth ranks makes for impressive reading, having scored and assisted 25 goals in just 35 games for the club’s U19 side.
Even in a handful of games for Hoffenheim’s second team in Germany’s third tier, Campbell showed flashes of what he’s all about, averaging a stellar three successful dribbles per game.
That very much evokes memories of Jota in his pomp, so graceful and direct up against opposition full-backs, beating his man time and again on either side.
Campbell, naturally left-footed, certainly boasts a similar spark to his game, with Parkhead – as it was for a young Jota – potentially the perfect platform for his potential to be truly realised.
O’Neill’s answer to Kyogo: Celtic in talks to sign £6m Filet alternative
Celtic are reportedly in talks to sign a striker who would be Martin O’Neill’s own version of Kyogo Furuhashi.
