Celtic Lose Ground in January Window with Munteanu Heading to MLS

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The Celtic Star

·13 janvier 2026

Celtic Lose Ground in January Window with Munteanu Heading to MLS

Celtic’s January transfer plans hit an early bump after Louis Munteanu left CFR Cluj for Major League Soccer…

CFR Cluj v. Paksi – Europa League Louis Munteanu, Virgiliu Postolachi, and Aly Abeid celebrate during the match between CFR 1907 Cluj and Paksi FC at Dr Constantin Radulescu Stadium in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, on July 17, 2025. Cluj-Napoca Romania Photo Flaviu Buboi

The Romanian striker completed a club-record move to D.C. United on 5 January, which took him off the table for a switch to Glasgow and left Celtic scrambling to rethink their options. And as we get close to the midway point in the window time is starting to running short for Celtic CEO Michael Nicholson who has been trying to sign a striker for a year. The pressure is certainly rising with Celtic supporters debating online what missing out on yet another high-profile target could mean for the second half of the season and whether it leaves the squad short where it matters most.

Vidéos OneFootball

Louis Munteanu Romania celebrates his goal for 0 1, UEFA European Under 21 Championship 2025 Group Stage, Spain v Romania, National Stadium on June 14, 2025 in Bratislava, Slovakia Photo by Marco Steinbrenner DeFodi Images Louis Munteanu Romania celebrates after scoring his teams first goal, UEFA European Under 21 Championship 2025 Group Stage, Spain v Romania, National Stadium, June 14, 2025 in Bratislava, Slovakia Photo by Marco Steinbrenner DeFodi Images

Despite a challenging campaign, several leading sportsbooks that offer competitive odds, generous bonuses, and operate outside GamStop still price the Hoops at 6/4 to win the league (source: https://esportsinsider.com/uk/gambling/non-gamstop-betting-sites). That pricing suggests the market views Celtic’s squad depth and momentum as strong enough to sustain a title push, even after failing to secure Munteanu during the January window. But Celtic supporters are well aware of the boardroom failing at the club and will not tolerate more excuses in the January transfer window.

However, the background to the situation underlines why the development has landed with such force. Celtic had previously explored a move for Munteanu during earlier negotiations, only for talks to stall. The prospect of a renewed push in January kept his name in circulation, but the scale and speed of the MLS move closed that avenue decisively. What had lingered as a possibility has become a prompt for a change in the way Celtic’s recruitment is handled.

Celtic Chief Executive Michael Nicholson and Celtic Chief Financial Officer Chris Mackay in the directors box. Celtic v Hearts, Scottish Premiership, Celtic Park, 07 December 2025. IMAGO photo Stuart Wallace Shutterstock

The timing compounds the pressure. Off-field disruptions at Celtic Park and mixed results have sharpened focus on recruitment and squad balance, while a packed fixture list leaves little margin for delay. With goals steady rather than dominant and no clear focal point up front, uncertainty in the striker position risks turning fine margins into costly dropped points in a tight title race where Celtic sit six points behind leaders Hearts as a result of the Board’s foolish decision in appointing French rookie Wilfried Nancy with the former Columbus Crew boss losing six games from eight in a catastrophic 33 day stay.

Celtic manager Wilfried Nancy arrives prior to the match between Celtic and theRangers at Celtic Park on January 03, 2026. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Overall Celtic’s season has been shaped by fine margins. Goals have come, but not in volumes that allow for hesitation up front, and the lack of a reliable focal point in attack has made it harder to keep standards up when the games come thick and fast. In a title race this tight, small mistakes do not stay small for long; they turn into dropped points that can define the season.

And it’s fair to say that Celtic’s margin for error in this particular campaign has already been used up during that awful Wilfried Nancy spell as the Celtic manager.

Munteanu’s move also reflects a broader shift in the transfer landscape. MLS clubs are increasingly prepared to act decisively for world-class players, committing to record fees and concluding deals quickly. That decisiveness can alter the balance of competition in windows where Scottish clubs are operating within more rigid financial parameters, reshaping the market in ways that are difficult to counter at short notice.

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

For Celtic supporters, the significance of the episode lies less in what might have been and more in what comes next. With January advancing and pressure building domestically, attention now turns to how swiftly alternative solutions can be identified and whether the response in the remaining weeks of the window can prevent a missed opportunity from shaping the rest of the season.