Martin O’Neill content with Celtic’s transfer business but elaborates on his Gineitis frustration | OneFootball

Martin O’Neill has revealed his satisfaction with the club’s transfer dealings in the conclusion of the summer transfer window but also has some nagging frustrations…

Celtic’s summer signings

Six of Celtic’s 10 summer signings arrived in the final 48 hours of the window, with Joel van den Berg, Jordan Lotomba, Sam Johnstone, Oliver Sorensen, and 18-year-old Chelsea pair Shim Mheuka and Landon Emenalo, joining Camilo Duran, Kasper Hogh, Mika Baur, and Haissem Hassan as the Irishman bolstered his squad for the long campaign ahead.

Haissem Hassan of Celtic is challenged by Nesta Guinness-Walker of Aberdeen during the Scottish Premiership 2026/27 match between Celtic and Aberdeen at Celtic Park on September 02, 2026. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

The Chelsea players and Van den Berg did not make Celtic’s Europa League squad because of limited spaces.

“I’m delighted to get players,” Martin said. “Genuinely pleased. The difficulty is that you only have to look at the UEFA list. Some young lads will be disappointed not being able to make that particular UEFA squad. So there’s only so many places that we could fill.

“If we can avoid serious injury to the players here, people not being out for endless lengths of time, then I’m happy with it.”

As per usual, Celtic left their business late, with several  areas of the squad still in desperate need of attention, in particular the left back position which is in a rather fragile state, particularly with the current injury status of Kieran Tierney.

9th August 2026; Rugby Park, Scottish Premiership, Kilmarnock versus Celtic; Kieran Tierney of Celtic arrives for the match. Photo by Vagelis Georgariou

When asked what lessons could be learned about the timing, Martin seemed slightly miffed as he said: “How many times are you going to ask me that each week? We started this in July time. So I’m pleased with the players that we’ve got in.

“We’ve got them in and I genuinely want to get on with it now. So, ideally, it would be great to have got players in earlier to get them bedded in. It doesn’t matter. Happy, really happy to have the players that we have.”

Gvidas Gineitis of Torino FC in action during the Serie A match between US Cremonese and Torino FC at Stadio Giovanni Zini on April 19, 2026 in Cremona, Italy. (Photo by Marco M. Mantovani/Getty Images)

When asked if he was disappointed not to land Torino midfielder Gvidas Gineitis, the 74-year-old said to the broadcast media (that’s the media conference the club release on YouTube and have banned the fan media from): “No, I’m really pleased with what we have now at this minute. So, honestly, not a problem.”

However the veteran Celtic boss had more to say on the Gvidas Gineitis situation to written press, who he meets separately after he has spoken at his (broadcast) media conference.

“We had more than an interest in him at the time but it’s all very well having an interest and people feeling that they might want to come, you still have to negotiate with the club.

“That was a major thing at the end of the day, when clubs become adamant about a certain price for a player.

“We aren’t in the market for overpriced players like in England – you have to deal with it as best as you can. You feel there is a price for a player, sure you can negotiate, but if there is not really any phenomenal negotiations, then you need to do other things.

“We had an interest in another young lad who I think will be a brilliant player. I loved him and I thought we could do it, but the club sent him elsewhere.”

Celtic manager Martin O’Neill arrives prior to the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Aberdeen at Celtic Park on September 02, 2026. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

The Celtic manager also made an ‘interesting point’ in regard to the reliance on loan signings which he has a concern about.  As well as the four loan players coming in, Lotomba has only signed until the end of the season, and Martin spoke about his mixed emotions when it came to temporary signings.

“I sometimes concern myself about loan players coming in and maybe not seeing the club that they’re going to as the club that they really want to play for,” said at his broadcast media conference.

I think it’s fair to say that while essentially towing the party line with regard to the overall transfer window, the Celtic manager has his concerns and his worries about how it panned out and possibly a nagging feeling that it could easily have been much better, as discussed in my previous article.

Just an Ordinary Bhoy

HAVE YOUR SAY – Join the Celtic conversation in our comments section below…

Celtic Shorts is the new home for the team from The Celtic Star

NEW FROM CELTIC STAR BOOKS…Celtic in the Fifties by Matt Corr, in two volumes, available now…

Celtic in the Fifties by Matt Corr. Both Volumes out now. Order at celticstarbooks.com

Celtic in the Fifties by Matt Corr, in two volumes, both published on 4th September 2026 by Celtic Star Books. Click on image to order.

Quick Tip – Add Celticshorts.com as your ‘Preferred Source’ on Google News for quick access to the Celtic content you value the most. It takes just a few seconds and you’ll notice the difference straight away! – Click HERE….Hail Hail!

Click to join Celtic Pools