Celtic

Image source, Getty Images

Chelsea and David Datro Fofana are working on a permanent exit this window, with Celtic, Royal Antwerp and Derby County all expressing interest in the 23-year-old forward who is currently on loan at Turkish Super Lig club Fatih Karagumruk. (Fabrizio Romano on X), external

Celtic are exploring a possible deal for NK Celje forward Franko Kovacevic, who has scored 25 goals in 28 games this season - including 14 in the Europa League and Conference League. (Sky Sports), external

Basel have reduced their asking price for Philip Otele and will consider offers in excess of £6m, with Celtic, Lazio, Bournemouth, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Birmingham City among those interested in the 26-year-old winger. (Ben Jacobs on X), external

Hibernian are expecting offers for striker Kieron Bowie in the coming weeks amid interest from Celtic and Rangers and have placed a £6.5m price tag on the 23-year-old's head. (Football Insider), external

Xavier Mbuyamba, previously linked with Celtic and Rangers, has revealed he is holding talks with other clubs, with the 24-year-old Volendam centre-back now free to sign a pre-contract agreement elsewhere. (Daily Record), external

Benjamin Nygren's 10th Scottish Premiership goal of the season gave Celtic an unconvincing - but vital - victory over Falkirk, which kept them six points behind leaders Hearts on an important night in the title race.

Have your say on Celtic's performance.

Image source, SNS

Celtic manager Martin O'Neill: "It was on a knife edge I thought Falkirk played well.

"In the first half they had some good chances that on another night they might have scored. We were fortunate to go in at half-time 1-0 in front, we hadn't played particularly well.

"I thought second half we started to improve a bit and got a bit tighter to Falkirk which was important. Overall I'm delighted to have won the game but we can play much better.

"It's only 72 hours since we played brilliantly against Dundee United. So we're looking for a level of performance, but to win tonight considering we didn't play well was terrific."

On adding signings this month, O'Neill said: "We're hoping to do so. That's pretty necessary. We're making progress on things and certainly by the end of the window we should have some players to supplement this squad.

"There are reports about a lot of...I seem to get five or six per day. We are trying to make ground and we're doing pretty well I think.

"I thought my time was done here, so I wasn't expecting to pick up the pieces again and look at players.

"Just give us a little bit of time, cut me a little bit of slack and we'll be ok. The focus is to try and win some football matches, but the other aspect to it is to try to add to the squad if we can do.

"To add a bit of extra quality to help the players out here."

Kheredine Idessane
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Here is the definition of the word 'chronic'. 1) persisting for a long time or constantly recurring. 2) of a very poor quality.

Celtic's recent recruitment problems snugly fit into both definitions. The club's inability over the past year to replace the goalscorers they've lost is remarkable.

It's almost exactly 12 months since Kyogo Furuhashi was sold; Adam Idah departed at the end of the last transfer window in August.

To be almost halfway through January and manager Martin O'Neill having to cancel a defender's loan due to a lack of back-up in the squad is a stark illustration of the depth of the problem.

You feel for Stephen Welsh. Surplus to requirements under previous manager Brendan Rodgers, he was farmed out to Motherwell and flourished.

He has now been recalled to Parkhead as cover. Should another central defender be signed in the next fortnight, Welsh may be sent back to Fir Park. Hardly the ringing endorsement from his employers, is it? "Come back, son, until we sign someone else."

It's further up the park where the real problems lie, of course. In addition to the departures of Furuhashi and Idah, the goals and assists of Nicolas Kuhn disappeared to Como last summer.

The only striker brought in to compensate was free agent Kelechi Iheanacho. It quickly became apparent staying fit would be problematic for the former Nigeria international.

With Daizen Maeda preferred in a wide role, and Johnny Kenny missing far too many chances to be regarded as Celtic's 'go to' number nine, it is remarkable and baffling there is still no sign of a striker at the halfway stage of this transfer window.

What has the recruitment department being doing for the past year? There must, surely, be folders full of files on prospective strikers and forwards that have been worked on? Or is that why head of football operations Paul Tisdale lost his job along with former manager Wilfried Nancy?

With assistant boss Shaun Maloney now, perhaps unexpectedly, having to lead on transfers it may be reasonable to expect some kind of delay in new arrivals.

It may also take James Bell-Walker, formerly a senior figure in scouting and talent identification at Chelsea, a wee while to get his feet under the table at Celtic.

We are dealing, however, with a problem entirely of the club's own making. Less than a year ago, they had the world at their feet, relatively speaking. Drawing 1-1 with the mighty Bayern Munich on their own patch in the Champions League knockout stages.

Here's what they've lost since then: two cup finals, two managers, a chairman, their place at the top of the Premiership and Champions League spot (to a team from Kazakhstan).

Little wonder previously disparate sections of the Celtic support are now coming together to demand better, and quickly.

Caleb Akpo-Young
BBC Sport Scotland

Image source, SNS

It could have all been so different for Yang Hyun-Jun.

After being a bit-part player throughout his Celtic career, the 23-year-old was on the verge of departing Parkhead over the summer to Birmingham City.

But the move did not materialise and in Glasgow he remained.

Some may call it a blessing in disguise since the South Korea international has become an important figure of late for Celtic, scoring three goals in has past four matches.

Under Brendan Rodgers, Yang's opportunities were limited, but he flourished during Martin O'Neill's initial return, scoring an important goal in the 3-1 Europa League win over Feyenoord at De Kuip, the club's first away victory in Europe since 2021.

In Wilfried Nancy's short stint Yang started all but one of the Frenchman's eight matches in charge, showing his versatility in the right-wing back position.

In Nancy's final game, Yang scored a brilliant solo effort in the 3-1 home loss to Rangers, showing his ability to step up in bigger matches.

At the weekend, he opened the scoring in a 4-0 win over Dundee United, with O'Neill complementing his ability by saying: "It's the way that he can go past players, which is great. That's a big, big asset in today's game.

O'Neill added: "Sometimes I think he might actually even be better on the left-hand side, checking in and coming in, because he can hit, and he can get clear of players when he's coming in."

Image source, Getty Images

Celtic are exploring a move for Union Berlin striker Andrej Ilic, but the Germans' £9m valuation and interest from multiple clubs, including Burnley, could make the signing difficult. They are also strongly considering Manchester City goalkeeper Stefan Ortega. (TeamTalk), external

Celtic target Mohamed Bamba looks likely to remain with Lorient after their top striker picked up an injury while the 24-year-old returned to full training after being left out their squad for a breach of discipline. (Daily Record), external

Hacken director of football Martin Ericsson says the Swedes would expect a club record fee before they would agree to sell 21-year-old Danish midfielder Silas Andersen, who has recently been linked with a number of foreign clubs, including Celtic and Rangers. (Fotbollskanalen in Swedish), external

Image source, SNS

Kieran Tierney admits Martin O'Neill has restored calm and confidence at Celtic.

The 73-year-old Northern Irishman is back for a third spell in charge and second interim stint this season after the ill-fated reign of Wilfried Nancy, who lasted just 33 days.

O'Neill has immediately got Celtic winning again - they thumped Dundee United last Saturday 4-0 and can reclaim second place from Rangers with victory at Falkirk on Wednesday night.

Asked to sum up a chaotic past few weeks, defender Tierney said: "It was disappointing.

"It's not good enough losing that many games in such a short space of time at Celtic, it is never acceptable.

"For now, it is just about making it right and winning again. The first day we came back in and they [O'Neill and Shaun Maloney] were here it was just like normal again because we built up a good routine in the however many weeks they were there before, and we had good results, good momentum and it just feels like we've picked up from there.

"I think at any club if you lose games, you're going to lose confidence. But this group of staff that's come in, they're so good at giving you confidence and making you feel good about yourself.

"I think you could see that at the weekend as well."

Image source, SNS

Attacking midfielder Louie Marsh goes straight into the Falkirk squad after joining on loan from Sheffield United.

Ethan Williams has picked up an illness which probably keeps him out. Lewis Neilson (ankle), Gary Oliver (hamstring) and Tom Lang (foot) are working to get back to fitness.

Celtic remain without Kelechi Iheanacho, Alistair Johnston, Callum Osmand and Marcelo Saracchi (all hamstring) and Cameron Carter-Vickers (Achilles).

Jota's knee problem is likely to keep him out for the rest of the season.

Caleb Akpo-Young
BBC Sport Scotland

Celtic had a training ground visitor today as Peter Schmeichel, father of goalkeeper Kasper, was in attendance at Lennoxtown.

The Manchester United icon, who was one of the prominent players in Sir Alex Ferguson's 1999 treble-winning side, watched on as Celtic prepared for their away test to Falkirk on Wednesday night night.

Schmeichel will have as much emotional investment into Celtic as anyone with son Kasper being the number one at Parkhead.

However, the 39-year-old has come in for criticism this season amid underwhelming performances. During the short stint of Wilfried Nancy, the Dane was unable to keep a clean sheet in any of the seven matches which he played in for the Frenchman.

He was relatively untested in Martin O'Neill's returning game in charge as interim boss as Celtic ran out 4-0 winners over Dundee United.

Image source, SNS

Image source, SNS

Image source, SNS

Image source, SNS

Martin O'Neill has been speaking to the media before Celtic's Premiership game at Falkirk on Wednesday.

Here are the key points from the Celtic interim boss:

• O'Neill says Celtic are "genuinely working really hard in the background" on transfers and "making progress", adding: "I think we're relatively close, but those are famous last words."

• He insists there has been no "impediments from board level" and is not "blaming anybody".

• O'Neill later says: "It genuinely is at this stage, even though it's halfway through January, it is looking around to see what could fit for us as much as anything else. Again, it's not perfect. We might end up having to do some things, you take somebody on loan that you think you wouldn't be looking to sign for three or four years, for instance. Something like that."

• He admits he has "discarded some" potential signings presented to him.

• O'Neill doesn't expect Portuguese winger Jota, who has been out since April with a knee injury, to return to action this season.

• The Northern Irishman says it is "pretty obvious" he is looking to sign a striker.

• A loan return to Motherwell this month for recalled defender Stephen Welsh "might happen" but O'Neill adds: "We've got three centre-backs at this moment and if anything happened to any of them we could find ourselves in a bit of trouble."

• On how many players he has been offered since returning, O'Neill says: "It probably would be close to the thousands. A slight exaggeration, but it's plenty. This is the month in which agents are working and some of the players they've offered, they didn't realise have actually died. That's not true. But no, it's not a surprise to me. January is when agents will want to try and push players."

• O'Neill says he understands fans' frustration over the lack of signings.

• On Falkirk: "I have the utmost regard for their manager John McGlynn and the job he's done now. They're flying."

• O'Neill dismisses speculation Auston Trusty has picked up an injury: "He trained this morning, he's fine."

Tino
Fan writer

As January ticks on, Celtic's recruitment priorities are becoming impossible to ignore.

Above all else, this squad badly needs a reliable number nine - maybe even two - who can consistently convert good chances into goals.

Because chance creation hasn't really been the issue, particularly in recent weeks.

The frustration has all too often come down to there being no one – or at least no one clinical enough – to finish off the chances conjured up.

The fact our current top scorers aren't strikers tells its own story.

Benji Nygren has been in solid scoring form from midfield with 11 goals, despite not always starting. Daizen Maeda, meanwhile, continues to be most productive from wide areas. He has eight goals in total, but only four of them came when he played centre forward.

And it's when you then zoom in on the club's forwards the lack of cutting edge is clear to see.

From our recognised strikers, Johnny Kenny is out in front on five goals, followed by the injured duo of Kelechi Iheanacho and Callum Osmand with three and one respectively. Shin Yamada has yet to register a single goal for the club.

Nine goals in total from such a vital department simply isn't sustainable. At least not for a side with title aspirations.

And none of this will come as news to anyone. The supporters know it, you would hope the recruitment team know it, and Martin O'Neill most certainly knows it.

What's perhaps been discussed less though is another position that has slowly but surely become a concern. Goalkeeper.

Celtic have immense experience in Kasper Schmeichel and his career speaks for itself. But football can be unforgiving and at 39 there are signs his time at the top level may be up.

His reactions and decision-making don't look to be what they once were and some recent goals conceded have raised more than a few eyebrows.

This isn't about blaming any one individual for Celtic's indifferent form this season, but when clean sheets become rarer, and errors increase, questions naturally follow.

Those concerns are heightened when you look at the options beyond Schmeichel. Viljami Sinisalo has looked relatively competent in his few appearances, but it seems for whatever reason he isn't trusted to replace the Dane just yet. Ross Doohan as third choice will be unlikely to get many minutes, if any.

So yes, the striker issue dominates the conversation, and rightly so. But this window might also be about future-proofing other key areas of this fragile Celtic squad.

Maybe the club have it all in hand, maybe our anxiety levels are all misplaced, or maybe we've all seen this kind of transfer window inaction from Celtic one too many times before.

What the club do off the park in the next couple of weeks could have every bit as big a part to play in the destination of the title as anything O'Neill and the players do on it.

Tino can be found at The Celtic Exchange, external

Image source, SNS

• Falkirk have lost 13 of their past 15 meetings with Celtic in all competitions (D2) since a 1-0 victory in March 2007.

• Celtic have only lost one of their past 22 league matches against Falkirk (W18 D3), and have also won 19 of their latest 20 league games against newly-promoted opponents (D1) since a 2-1 defeat to Hearts in July 2021.

• Falkirk have only lost one of their past eight home league matches (W3 D4), going down 2-0 to Hearts in December.

• Celtic have lost four of their past seven away games in the Scottish Premiership (W3), as many as their previous 32 on the road beforehand (W22 D6 L4).

• Celtic have lost both of their past two midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) league games, as many as their previous 80 beforehand (W67 D11 L2). The Parkhead club last lost three league matches in a row in midweek from January to May 1990.

Celtic have opened talks with Red Bull Bragantino over a possible loan deal for 26-year-old winger Ignacio Laquintana as they turn to other targets after the collapse of their £2m move for Maccabi Netanya's Jocelin Ta Bi. (The Scotsman), external

Maccabi Netanya's Jocelin Ta Bi is poised to clinch a move to an unnamed Premier League club after Celtic pulled out of a £2m move for the Ivory Coast 20-year-old after injury issues were flagged in a medical examination. (Daily Record), external

Celtic interim manager Martin O'Neill says Stephen Welsh was recalled as he needed cover at centre-half but suggests that the 25-year-old could return to Motherwell on loan this month. (The National), external

Celtic target Mohamed Bamba was dropped from the Lorient squad at the weekend for a "lack of discipline", the 24-year-old striker's head coach, Olivier Pantaloni, has revealed. (The Herald), external

Read the rest of Tuesday's Scottish gossip.

Watch Sportscene pundit Charlie Mulgrew discuss former club Celtic's transformation with the return of manager Martin O'Neill.

The defending Premiership champions won 4-0 in the Northern Irishman's first game back, following Wilfried Nancy's chaotic eight-match reign.

"There's definitely an energy shift in terms of the players are delighted," Mulgrew said.

"They know exactly what their roles are under Martin O'Neill. He manages the team, he manages people very well."

Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter

Celtic swept to a 4-0 win over Dundee United in Martin O'Neill's first game back and they have four players in my team of the week.

Liam Scales grabbed an assist and delivered a composed display in central defence. A player who looks much more comfortable with O'Neill back in the dugout.

Kieran Tierney also looked back to his old self. Strong and reliable at the back plus a frequent danger going forward.

Callum McGregor set the rhythm and the tone as Celtic returned to their top level, while Yang Hyun-jun continued his fine form in a more conventional wing role.

He is suddenly a big player at the club.

Image source, SNS

Former Scotland midfielder Michael Stewart believes Martin O'Neill's return to Celtic has already put them on a surer footing.

O'Neill replaced the sacked Wilfried Nancy a week ago, having had a spell as interim manager before the Frenchman's appointment in early December.

And O'Neill maintained his 100% record in Scottish Premiership matches this season with Saturday's 4-0 home win over Dundee United. After all of the weekend games, Celtic remain six points off leaders Hearts but can cut that gap to three points with victory at Falkirk on Wednesday evening.

"I don't know so much about favourites, but they're certainly in a far better place to be able to mount a challenge," Stewart told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"Because they were sinking fast under Wilfried Nancy. There was no way they were going to be... I mean, if they'd left that any longer, then they would have been sinking without a trace, to be perfectly honest.

"And in a sort of perverse universe, it's probably worked out the better in the long run for them that they lost to Rangers. Because had they drawn or beaten Rangers, he wouldn't have been sacked and you just know that just around the corner there was going to be more dropped points.

"There's no way that that was going to work out."

Celtic are interested in Lorient striker Mohamed Bamba, 27. (Sun), external

Sources in France indicate Celtic are in talks over a loan move for Bamba. (Record), external

Celtic's move for Hapoel Petah Tikva's Ivory Coast winger Jocelyn Ta Bi, 20, has been undermined by injury. (Herald - subscription required), external

There is English interest in Celtic winger Yang Hyun-jun, 23. (Glasgow Times - subscription required), external

Midfielder Arne Engels is glad Celtic are sticking "to the basics again". (Record), external

Former Celtic player Barry Robson has been appointed Cork City boss. (Irish Independent - subscription required), external

Read Monday's Scottish gossip

Watch highlights as Celtic win 4-0 against Dundee United in the Scottish Premiership.

We asked for your views on Celtic's 4-0 win over Dundee United on Saturday.

Here's what some of you said:

Finn: A solid victory by Celtic. Martin O'Neill and Shaun Maloney have restored stability. They are the long-term management option, and should be given immediate transfer control. Key players, such as Daizen Maeda and Yang Hyun-jun, should be retained with significantly improved contracts, if possible. They are proven goal-scorers.

Liam: A really good performance with players knowing their positions and looking effective. We still lack a striker of quality and until we sign at least one we won't maximise taking our chances. But it is a great start.

Gerard: Blessed relief! The transformation within a week was staggering. Assured, confident, composed and clinical. The stands were at peace; smiles, jocularity and hope have returned. O'Neill, Maloney and their team are doing a terrific job, onwards and upwards.

Dave: Back to basics, keeping it simple, and back to winning ways, football isn't complicated, you need to score goals than you concede and win games of football. The difference in the players body language is unbelievable. Simply have to get a number nine in that team or we are toast.

Kev: Much better, a lot more fluency to the play. Players looked comfortable with the team set up, four goals against a team intent on damage limitation.

Mike: A breath of fresh air. Stronger at the back, dynamic up front. A complete performance. If we can add quality to the squad, this could yet be a successful season.