Martin O'Neill has made it clear that Celtic will continue to bolster their squad this summer, emphasizing that the club is focused on bringing in "quality rather than quantity". So far, the reigning Scottish Premiership champions have secured the services of Camilo Duran and Kasper Hogh, and they have also renewed Alex Oxlade‑Chamberlain on a one‑year contract.
Despite these moves, many supporters have expressed frustration over the perceived lack of activity in the transfer market, especially after the club’s star striker Daizen Maeda departed for newly promoted Premier League side Ipswich Town. Celtic's opening match of the title defence will be 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 urged fans to be patient as the club works to identify the right additions.
"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 league title on the final day with a decisive win over Hearts in May.
The manager believes the mental strength displayed last season will be a cornerstone for 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 ongoing speculation that he could reunite with former manager Brendan Rodgers at Al Qadsiah in Saudi Arabia.
The 33‑year‑old said in April that he wants the club to match his ambitions if he is to remain as they chase another league crown. "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 explained.
"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 expectations, 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." He continued, "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.
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." Looking ahead, McGregor highlighted the club’s ambition to return to the Champions League, noting that participation at that level would elevate Celtic to a new stature. "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 title‑defence will kick off at home against Dundee on 3 August, with a 7.30pm kickoff on Sky Sports. This match marks the culmination of an unprecedented opening weekend in which all six top‑flight fixtures will be shown live on the network for the first time. Fans can also look forward to the first Old Firm clash of the season later in the campaign, with the full schedule available on Celtic's official website.
In summary, O'Neill is committed to reinforcing the squad with high‑calibre signings, while McGregor remains steadfast in his desire to continue his career at Celtic, provided the club continues to align with his personal ambitions. Both men stress that mental resilience, a winning mentality, and strategic recruitment will be vital as Celtic aims to defend their Scottish Premiership crown and re‑establish themselves on the European stage.