Ange Postecoglou insists summer recruitment plans are already in place to make Celtic stronger. And, although the boss admits that stars may leave, he’s fully intent on ensuring the squad is in an even better place going into next term.
Celtic sold fans’ favourites Josip Juranovic and Giorgos Giakoumakis in January, but Postecoglou’s shrewd captures of impressive quartet Alistair Johnston, Oh Hyeon-gyu, Tomoki Iwata and Yuki Kobayashi boosted both resources and quality yet again. The boss moved straight from that process onto the next phase of the squad's development.
Plotting is underway for the fifth transfer window of his Celtic reign which opens in June and Postecoglou says he has already pinpointed key areas for improvement. Stars such as Liel Abada are attracting suitors from Europe and the manager admits interest in his current group means it is uncertain just how much business may need to be done.
But Postecoglou’s sole focus is to ensure that Celtic are in even better shape by the time the next round of deals are concluded. He said: “We already have some plans in place in terms of areas we want to strengthen.
“At the same time, there is always the possibility that our players may move on for one reason or another and we have to be ready for that and make sure that come the end of the window we are in a better position that we were going into it.”
Asked about the size of alterations, he explained: “It depends on the window, particularly the summer window. You go into that one with a little bit of uncertainty because you don’t know what players will be affected within your own squad. So you are kind of always alert.
“But the goal is the same in every transfer window. We want to come out of the window stronger than we go into it. And we are ready for that.”
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