Brendan Rodgers insisted on quality before projects after finishing last season reliant on the squad that he inherited from Ange Postecoglou boosted by the January arrivals of Adam Idah and Nicolas Kuhn.
Almost all of the summer 2023 signings were discarded by the Celtic boss with the best part of a dozen players moved out during the summer to create a leaner, higher quality first team squad.
Drastic surgery isn’t needed in January but with much of the issues resolved a more normalised period of business can be expected with the left-back an area that requires attention with Alex Valle and Greg Taylor out of contract in the summer.
Sutton has been impressed by the summer activity and tells Daily Record readers of two minor areas that should be priorities when the transfer window opens in seven weeks time:
It would make sense for Celtic to make a move for Lennon Miller in January – but there would be none whatsoever in cashing in on Nicolas Kuhn.
You know it’s international week when fans start filling the void with transfer talk and all these what-ifs. But there’s also no smoke without fire and there’s been plenty of heat around Motherwell’s prized asset and Celtic’s player of the season so far. In terms of Miller.
I can understand where people are coming from. He’s clearly a top prospect and arguably the best young player in Scotland. Of course Celtic will know all about him. They would be silly not to be keeping tabs on him.
On Miller, Sutton adds:
He’s definitely one for the future though. The key for him is playing every week. That’s why I can see the merit in signing him now and loaning him out, either back at Motherwell or somewhere else. I know it might not be a popular opinion at Fir Park or elsewhere, but I always think the best Scottish players should be moving to Celtic – or Rangers – and the money staying in the country.
On Kuhn the former Celtic striker said:
We’re not even halfway through the season but it’s not inconceivable there will be concrete interests in January. What is inconceivable is Celtic allowing him to go at that stage.
Listen, I understand money talks and if a head-spinning £30m offer comes in, then it will give food for thought. But Celtic are in a strong position and under no pressure to sell. Money is already pouring in from all angles and even every point in Europe is adding to the coffers.
They will be in no hurry – and neither should Kuhn be. I can’t say I know him personally but he seems to have a smart head on his shoulders. He’s at a big club, he’s playing in the Champions League and he’s in the form of his life.
Most well run clubs do minimal business in January, this year Kuhn and Idah were signed, if similar levels can be achieved in 2025 it should keep the hoops on course for their fourth SPFL title in a row.
It might be an international break for most football managers but not for Phil Clement.
A year ago he could do no wrong as Tavpen went on an incredible scoring run just as Celtic lost back to back against Kilmarnock and Hearts to open up a title race.
Despite being A Proper Football Manager the burden of trying to transform a squad of serial losers proved to be too much for Clement who descended into Prime Time Beale as the season collapsed with two defeats to Celtic in May devastating the loyal bears.
A net £13.4m was spent on the squad from July 1 but Clement has managed the near impossible of steering his side into third place in a two horse race.
After a few wobbles defeats at Kilmarnock and Aberdeen convinced almost all fans that Clement was their latest false messiah and had to be sacked.
Unfortunately without a CEO, Chairman or even a pot then Belgian Wallfler has managed to survive into his 13th month in charge.
Three matches without defeat have avoided the inevitable decision on Clement, the fans, directors, players and media know that his time is up with just the exact defeat to be identified that proves too much for the Ibrox Board to try and ignore.
Having tried every other option bringing in a ‘right good blue nose’ that knows the traditions of the club is the only avenue that the club can go down.
Derek McInnes could fashion a capable squad out of solid players like Lewis Mayo, Matty Kennedy and Darius Vassel but there is no appetite for medium term planning at Ibrox.
Ny May Celtic could well have claimed #title55 and become the Most Successful Club in the World as defined by the artwork all around Ibrox and Murray Park.
Whoever is managing at Ibrox at that time will need exceptionally thick skin or a water tight contract for a full pay off, having turned them down once before McInnes is no guarantee to take over from Clement despite the campaign launched by the Daily Record.
