Celtic Focus on Quality Signings as Squad Reshapes for Title Defense

Martin O’Neill insists Celtic will chase “quality rather than quantity” as the champions reshape their squad for another tilt at the Scottish Premiership title.

The Parkhead club have moved early but selectively in the market, bringing in Camilo Duran and Kasper Hogh for a combined outlay of around £15m. For a side that finished last season as champions, this is evolution rather than revolution.

One departure, though, has left a clear gap.

Daizen Maeda, a relentless presence in Celtic’s front line and a symbol of their pressing game, has departed for Ipswich Town. His exit strips O’Neill of a “big, big player” and sharpens the focus on what must come next.

“We've lost Daizen, he was a big, big player for us and so we have to replace him and I think that we're doing our best to do that,” O’Neill told Sky Sports, making no attempt to downplay the scale of the task.

Celtic have been heavily linked with Real Oviedo and Egypt winger Haissem Hassan and Paderborn midfielder Mika Baur as O’Neill looks to refresh the squad with proven talent rather than padding out numbers. The message from the manager is clear: expect signings, but expect them to be of a certain standard.

“I think we're trying to get some quality into the football club,” he said. “We will get some more players in, there's no question about that also but yeah, I want quality rather than quantity.”

If Maeda’s departure has created a void, the arrival of Kasper Hogh has injected a sense of intrigue and anticipation.

Celtic broke their club transfer record to prise the Denmark forward from Bodo/Glimt, a statement of intent and a clear indication of how highly O’Neill rates the 23-year-old. Big fee, big expectation.

“I think it's great news for us in the football club and I think it's great news for the fans,” O’Neill said. “We want to try and improve our goal scoring obviously and I think he's the man to do it.”

Hogh will not be short of scrutiny. A record signing at Celtic is never just another player; he becomes a reference point for the season, a barometer of recruitment and ambition. O’Neill, though, is determined not to let the weight of the fee rest solely on his new striker’s shoulders.

“I'm hoping that he will get help throughout the whole time and we're not just relying on him,” he added. “Hopefully the goals will be shared around a little bit but if he is the main man, I hope he comes up.”

That balance – between responsibility and support, between adding star power and maintaining a cohesive unit – will define Celtic’s summer.

The champions know the rest of the league will come harder this time. O’Neill’s answer is not to stockpile bodies but to sharpen the starting XI. The chequebook has already opened for Hogh. The next few weeks will show whether Celtic can land the extra touches of class their manager so clearly craves.