Celtic are making some last-minute moves in the summer transfer market ahead of the window slamming shut on Friday.
Brendan Rodgers would have preferred to be in a situation where the majority of his squad was settled now and he could just get on with the season.
But Celtic sold Matt O’Riley late in the window to Brighton – he has been unfortunate to pick up a serious injury since – and it has meant that the £25 million fee they received is just being spent.
The first area Celtic fans will rightfully point towards is the middle of the park and how new faces need to come in for O’Riley – and more.
But Stephen McGinn touched upon an area of concern for the Bhoys, especially with the Champions League around the corner.
In truth, when it comes to domestic matters, the team can still get the job done and win the trophies all over again – Celtic dominated Rangers last season and are expected to do it all again.
The issue is Celtic’s form and performances in Europe and how they simply need to be more competitive – a problem they also had under Ange Postecoglou.
That’s why McGinn thinks Celtic need to sign Auston Trusty from English Championship side Sheffield United to help enhance the defence.
McGinn touched upon how an injury to Cameron Carter-Vickers would then result in Liam Scales and Stephen Welsh being the centre-back pairing which ‘isn’t good enough’ for the Champions League, as he told Go Radio.
Only 12 months ago, many would have expected Scales to be heading for the exit door, but injuries around the squad kept him on, and as McGinn touched upon, he rose under the stewardship of Rodgers.
Celtic urged to sign Auston Trusty
On Celtic needing to sign Trusty: “Yeah (I have watched Trusty), he plays for the national team,” said McGinn. “I think it’s an area of the park. I think Liam Scales has done terrifically well, in terms of where his Celtic career was at, to what it has become under Brendan Rodgers.
“They look very wafer-thin, in terms of any sort of injury to Cameron Carter-Vickers, then all of a sudden, the defence becomes Scales and Welsh. At the Champions League level, that’s not good enough.”
Celtic v Rangers
It’s the small matter of the Glasgow derby at the weekend and this is Celtic’s chance to pile real misery on their rivals.
Rangers have already dropped points this season, but they did put six past Ross County at the weekend.
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Given the off-field issues with the Gers, not playing at Ibrox and not winning the title last season, then a win here for Celtic would really make things interesting across the other side of Glasgow.
Even Micah Richards spit the truth about Celtic and how the gap between the rest of the league is beyond huge.
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