“I think that would be the exciting thing for fans,” Martin O’Neill | OneFootball

Martin O’Neill reckons bringing in footballers with a certain pedigree will be a shot in the arm for a support that has reached boiling point with the club’s hierarchy over recent years…

Celtic Park ahead of the Celtic v AC Milan in a pre-season friendly at Celtic Park on July 25, 2026. (Photo by WM Sport Media/Getty Images)

The Hoops legend is back in the dugout for a second permanent spell at the club where he really put his name on the map over two-decades ago now, and insisted that the only way to help dial down the volume on the rising tensions which are now at a critical level, is to bring real, cast-iron quality through the door this summertime.

Camilo Duran and Kasper Hogh are excellent signings

Camilo Duran of Celtic celebrates scoring opening goal with James Forrest to make it Celtic 1-0 AC Milan during the Celtic v AC Milan in a pre-season friendly at Celtic Park on July 25, 2026. (Photo by WM Sport Media/Getty Images)

Celtic to eclipse the transfer record fee paid for Arne Engels with Kasper Hogh deal

With Camilo Duran already brought in and looking like a real find after completing a £5.5 million deal in early July, Bodø/Glimt’s Kasper Høgh is said to be the next star to be nearing the Parkhead entry door, with the club having agreed a record-breaking fee for the Danish centre-forward, which is said to eclipse the outlay for Arne Engels back in the summer of 2024 under Brendan Rodgers.

Kasper Hogh of Bodo/Glimt celebrates 3-0 during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Round of 16 First Leg match between FK Bodo/Glimt and Sporting Clube de Portugal at Aspmyra Stadium on March 11, 2026 in Bodo, Norway. (Photo by Martin Ole Wold/Getty Images)

Whilst that is ongoing in the background, the manager confirmed as much but also insisted players like Camilo Duran and Kasper Høgh, who have both proven they can cut it at European level in the UEFA Champions League last season, is something to help get the fans excited and on board for the forthcoming campaign.

“That’s the calibre of player that we’d be looking for”

“I’m hoping that players coming into the football club who are of some sort of substance, I think that would be the exciting thing for fans. I’m hoping that’s the case,” Martin O’Neill said, as reported by Daily Record.

“If that’s the case and it’s a record fee, that’s nice to know. But I think without going too deeply into it, that’s the calibre of player that we’d be looking for, who has scored goals in the Champions League. I’m hoping that that will happen. I think there’s a good chance of it (signing Kasper Høgh).”

“I think it’s quality that we’ll probably be looking for. And quality at the affordable prices is a real premium. But no, we are searching. We still think that we need some extra players in,” the Celtic manager stated bluntly.

Celtic manager Martin O’Neill arrives at the ground ahead of kick off in the Celtic v AC Milan in a pre-season friendly at Celtic Park on July 25, 2026. (Photo by WM Sport Media/Getty Images)

“But if he (Høgh) arrives, I think that’s great for us to begin with,” O’Neill confirmed. “And I’m hoping that we might get one or two more, if that’s the case. But there’s a good fight on now for places in the team. And we’ll just take it from there,” the Irishman added on the matter of incoming transfers this summer window.

Celtic’s summer business should be stepped up this week to bring in another FOUR players

Martin O’Neill is looking at adding a goalkeeper, a left-back a midfielder and a winger, hopefully before the season opener against Dundee next Monday evening. All four deals are far down the road and with a little bravery from the Celtic Board could easily be completed.

That lowballing factor though is a constant worry for the Celtic Supporters.

Yesterday Daizen Maeda got his well deserved move to the Premier League, joining Ipswich Town in a deal worth £10m to Celtic. That’s the money that essentially will fund the Kasper Hogh deal that should be concluded early next week.

And while we are expecting more arrivals over and above our incoming Danish striker, we can also anticipate that players could be leaving before the window closes with the likes of Reo Hatate and Arne Engels leading candidates for moves away from the Scottish Champions.

We talked about Celtic fan media earlier today. Here’s a perfect example from Tino and his team at The Celtic Exchange on just how good the fan media outlets can be. Imagine if this kind of content was available on the club’s own outlets, rather that the welcome to Celtic, have you tried Irn Bru stuff that is served up…

End of a Storm is in four parts, with three more to go. Part two is going to be a tough watch but can’t wait to see the final episode. Outstanding from Tino and his team, at The Celtic Exchange which is just one of the fan media outlets BANNED by Celtic.

Paul Gillespie

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