Celtic are expected to finish a late rush of transfer business before tomorrow night’s Europa League group-stage registration deadline, with Shaun Maloney saying the club still have key work to do in the market.
The assistant manager made the point before Wednesday’s Scottish Premiership visit of Aberdeen, and the timing matters. Celtic have already completed some deals, but there is still a sense that the squad is not yet fully settled for the weeks ahead.
Maloney said: “There’s some key positions that we still need a bit of work on in the next couple of days.”
He added: “I think we just need that slightly different profile, which we need in certain games.”
Why the deadline matters
This is not just a question of adding numbers. It is about making sure Celtic have the right options available before the Europa League group-stage registration deadline passes.
That is why the next 24 hours are expected to be busy. Celtic have pursued Justin Devenny on a season-long loan basis, but Crystal Palace only wanted a permanent sale. Devenny visited Lennoxtown last month, and is now undergoing a medical with Stoke City after Crystal Palace agreed to meet the £6million asking price.
It is another sign that Celtic have been working across several fronts at once. The club are expected to keep moving players in and out as they try to shape the squad for both domestic and European demands.
Possible exits and squad reshaping
There is also movement on the outgoing side. Reo Hatate is being linked with possible exits, while Johnny Kenny is linked with a move to Preston North End. Those situations suggest Celtic’s late business may be about more than one incoming signing.
For a club like Celtic, the standard is simple. The squad has to be strong enough for the league, but also flexible enough for Europa League nights when different tactical problems appear.
Maloney’s comments suggest the staff know that balance is not quite right yet. The next step is to get the right profile in place before the deadline closes, then turn attention fully to Aberdeen and the games that follow.
