Celtic added eight new faces to their senior squad during the summer transfer window. But no one at Parkhead is resting on their laurels just yet – and that includes Ange Postecoglou.
“I still think we need more,” the outspoken Aussie said earlier this week when asked about the prospect of further arrivals in the upcoming January transfer window, via Football Scotland.
“Squad-wise, we are not where we want to be. It’s only natural that we wouldn’t be.
“I knew at the end of the transfer window (all the additions) still wasn’t enough. Nothing has changed.”
That Celtic are still considered to be short in a number of different positions is a damning indictment of the club’s recruitment record in recent seasons.
Albian Ajeti appeared to have no future under Postecoglou in the summer but circumstances meant it was he who came of the bench to replace Kyogo Furuhashi as Celtic threw away a 2-1 lead against Bayer Leverkusen last week.
The Glasgow giants are also in need of a reliable back-up for Joe Hart between the sticks. And, if those ongoing links with John Souttar are anything to go by, a commanding central defender is also high on Postecoglou’s wishlist .
What does Reo Hatate’s arrival mean for Liam Scales at Celtic?
But the two areas where Celtic are arguably at their most brittle can potentially be solved by one soon-to-be free-agent.
It is understood that Reo Hatate will be joining compatriot Kyogo Furuhashi at Parkhead sooner rather than later. His contract at J-League outfit Kawasaki Frontale is due to expire in a few weeks’ time.
Now, Hatate has played 37 games this season; 16 at left-back and the other 20 in central midfield.
Technically-gifted and blessed with an eye for goal, Hatate could ease the burden on the overworked Tom Rogic and David Turnbull in the ‘number eight role’ while also slotting in to a left-back left left vacant by Greg Taylor’s injury issues.
But with Hatate packing his bags and brushing up on his Glaswegian slang, the future of one of Celtic’s summer signings is already starting to feel increasingly uncertain.
Postecoglou said back in October that Liam Scales, a £500,000 arrival from League of Ireland champions Shamrock Rovers, was not ready to feature regularly on the other side of the sea.
He’s played just 29 minutes of football in Celtic colours thus far – all of those coming against Raith Rovers in the League Cup – and was nowhere to be seen as the Hoops defeated Hearts on Thursday night.
And, despite Taylor’s ongoing absence, it is the right-footed Josip Juranovic who has been trusted to step into the breach, rather than the naturally left-sided Scales.
Hatate’s arrival, if or when it occurs, threatens to push him even further down the pecking order.
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