Martin O'Neill has made it clear that Celtic will continue to strengthen their squad this summer, emphasizing that the club is focused on adding "quality rather than quantity" to the roster. The reigning Scottish Premiership champions have already secured the services of Camilo Duran and Kasper Hogh, while former Liverpool midfielder Alex Oxlade‑Chamberlain has agreed to a fresh one‑year contract. Despite these moves, many fans have expressed frustration over what they perceive as a relatively quiet transfer window, especially after the departure of key striker Daizen Maeda, who has signed for newly promoted Premier League side Ipswich Town.
Celtic's campaign kicks off with a home match against Dundee on Monday, a game that will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, followed by a Champions League play‑off later in the month. O'Neill has asked supporters to exercise patience as the club continues its recruitment efforts.
"We're trying to get some quality into the football club," the 74‑year‑old manager told Sky Sports News. "We've lost Daizen; he was a big, big player for us and so we have to replace him.
I think that we're doing our best to do that. We will get some more players in, there's no question about that, but I want quality rather than quantity." After a turbulent season that saw O'Neill return to Celtic twice, the team clinched the title on the final day with a decisive victory over Hearts in May. The manager believes the mental resilience and winning mentality displayed by the squad were crucial to that success and will be equally important in the upcoming campaign. "Last season was terrific, it's gone now, it's consigned to history.
Now we're ready to go," O'Neill added. "I think it was mentality as much as anything else that got us over the line. It was strong, it was a will to win and we saw it through.
That will be very, very important this season, there's no question about that." Meanwhile, long‑time captain Callum McGregor has reiterated his loyalty to Celtic amid persistent rumors linking him with a move back to former manager Brendan Rodgers at Saudi Arabian club Al Qadsiah. The 33‑year‑old, who has been with Celtic since he was eight or nine, said in April that he wants the club to match his ambitions if he is to remain as they chase another league title.
"Listen, this is a football club that's been part of my whole life since I was eight, nine years old. It's where I want to be.
It's where I want to play football," McGregor said. "Ultimately, I want to keep driving everything that I possibly can to make sure this club is successful. Then eventually, the day that you do leave it, you want to leave it in a really good place." When asked whether Celtic were meeting his aspirations, McGregor responded positively: "Yes, listen, we've signed two strikers, two really good players.
Obviously, they've come in and done really well. Big Kasper (Hogh) has just joined us over the last 24 hours.
It's good signs, it's positive steps and that is to add to what is a really good group already. I spoke about this at the end of the season as well. I don't really think there's a group of players and a group of staff that could have got us through that difficult moment as much as these boys did." He went on to highlight the blend of talent and work ethic within the squad: "It's obviously about trying to add bits of quality, but what we do have here is guys who want to work for the club, who are good footballers, who want to get better and ultimately did bring success to the football club during a difficult season, so we have the makings of a really, really good team. Obviously, the standard for us is trying to get to Champions League football.
That's where we want to be. It takes the club to a different level.
So, can we keep pushing as players, staff and our football club to make sure we get there?" Celtic's opening fixture of the new season will see them host Dundee at Celtic Park on August 3, with kickoff scheduled for 7.30 pm. This match forms part of a historic opening weekend in which all six Scottish Premiership games will be shown live on Sky Sports for the first time, offering fans unprecedented access to top‑flight football across the country. The broadcast will also feature a preview of Celtic's upcoming Champions League play‑off, underscoring the club's ambition to compete on both domestic and European stages. The manager's emphasis on selective recruitment reflects a broader strategy to build a squad capable of challenging for the Champions League while maintaining dominance in Scotland.
By targeting players who can immediately raise the team's technical level, O'Neill hopes to avoid the pitfalls of a bloated roster and instead foster a cohesive unit that embodies the winning mentality that secured the previous title. In addition to the new signings, O'Neill and his coaching staff will likely evaluate the existing squad during pre‑season training, identifying areas for tactical refinement and fitness improvement. The integration of Camilo Duran, a promising young talent, and the experienced forward Kasper Hogh should provide both depth and competition for places, pushing established players to maintain high standards. Overall, the message from both O'Neill and McGregor is one of optimism and determination.
While acknowledging the challenges posed by player departures and the need for further reinforcements, they stress that the club's core values—hard work, ambition, and a commitment to excellence—remain intact. As Celtic embark on their title defence and aim to re‑establish themselves in Europe's elite competition, fans are urged to remain patient and supportive, trusting that the club's measured approach to recruitment will yield a squad capable of achieving both domestic glory and continental success.