A proper Celtic Manager maps out crucial weeks ahead

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The Celtic Star

·10 January 2026

A proper Celtic Manager maps out crucial weeks ahead

Martin O’Neill believes the coming weeks will be decisive for Celtic’s season, stressing that recruitment efforts are ongoing behind the scenes…

Julian Araujo of Celtic – new loan signing from Bournemouth poses with a Celtic jersey. Celtic Team Training and press conference, 2 Jan Gary 2026. Stuart Wallace/Shutterstock

The Hoops have added only one face so far during the January transfer window, securing defender Julian Araujo on loan from Bournemouth. However, a second signing appears imminent, with Ivory Coast wide man Jocelin Ta Bi closing in on a controversial move after a £2 million agreement was reached with Maccabi Netanya.

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Jocelin Ta Bi in action for Hapoel Petak Tikva Photo: LES ULTRAS IVORIENS

Ahead of his return to the Celtic Park dugout for this afternoon’s Scottish Premiership meeting with Dundee United, the interim boss highlighted the extensive groundwork being carried out as the club looks to strengthen its squad.

Speaking via Celtic’s official YouTube channel, O’Neill said to the broadcast media (Celtic fan media remains banned by the Celtic Board): “We’re doing plenty of work on it, seriously. I know that’s a big generalisation. We are doing that there, and hopefully we’ll try to get a few players in. There’s a lot of work going on at the moment. I think that we are well aware that we have to supplement the squad.”

Quizzed on the significance of potential reinforcements in light of the Ibrox club and Hearts strengthening their squads, O’Neill responded: “Well, I think you’re right. I think it’ll be crucial. I think it’s really important for us as well to get some people in to supplement the squad.”

Celtic Manager Martin O’Neill speaks at a mainstream conference on Tuesday 6th January 2026 at Lennoxtown after returning to the club following the sacking of Wifred Nancy. Photo Andy Buchanan Shutterstock

“I keep saying that, and I’m hoping that we’ll be able to do it because I think that the other two clubs we’re talking about will see this as an opportunity to bolster their squads. And what they do is entirely up to them. But yeah, we will need to do something.”

O’Neill enjoyed a successful spell in temporary charge after Brendan Rodgers stepped down unexpectedly in October, overseeing seven wins from eight matches, including Celtic’s first away victory in European group phase football for four years.

The 73 year-old has now been recalled to restore stability by Dermot Desmond at Celtic following Wilfried Nancy’s disastrous 33 days stint. Nancy’s appointment by the Celtic Board will go down as one of the worst decisions ever taken by the club and those responsible should be held accountable.

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