Martin O'Neill expressed genuine satisfaction with the way Celtic have handled their recent transfer activity, and Derek McInnes insisted that the composition of the Rangers dressing room now matches the environment he has always wanted. Celtic’s recruitment drive saw six of their ten summer signings arrive in the final two days before the transfer window shut, while McInnes added two more deadline‑day arrivals, bringing the total number of new faces at Ibrox to fourteen. Among the latest arrivals for the Hoops were Dutch midfielder Joel van den Berg, who moved from PSV Eindhoven, and Swiss right‑back Jordan Lotomba, who completed his switch from Feyenoord just before the UEFA registration deadline on Wednesday night.
In addition, Celtic secured loan deals for Wolves goalkeeper Sam Johnstone, Parma midfielder Oliver Sorensen, and two 18‑year‑old Chelsea prospects – Shim Mheuka and Landon Emenalo. Because UEFA limits the size of its competition squads, the Chelsea loanees and van den Berg were omitted from Celtic’s Europa League list, a decision O'Neill acknowledged would disappoint some of the younger players. "I'm delighted to get players," he said. "Genuinely pleased.
The difficulty is that you only have to look at the UEFA list. Some young lads will be disappointed not being able to make that particular UEFA squad. So there's only so many places that we could fill. If we can avoid serious injury to the players here, people not being out for endless lengths of time, then I'm happy with it." While Celtic’s domestic rivals had already completed the bulk of their business before the final week, the champions continued to address obvious gaps – most notably the need for a reliable backup to the injured left‑back Kieran Tierney after the club’s exit from the Champions League.
When asked about the timing of the signings, O'Neill replied, "How many times are you going to ask me that each week? We started this in July time. So I'm pleased with the players that we've got in. We've got them in and I genuinely want to get on with it now.
Ideally, it would be great to have got players in earlier to get them bedded in. It doesn't matter. Happy, really happy to have the players that we have." He was also asked whether he regretted missing out on Torino midfielder Gvidas Gineitis.
The 74‑year‑old manager shrugged it off, saying, "No, I'm really pleased with what we have now at this minute. So, honestly, not a problem." Lotomba’s contract runs only until the end of the season, and O'Neill admitted he sometimes worries about loan players not fully committing to the club that has taken them in.
"I sometimes concern myself about loan players coming in and maybe not seeing the club that they're going to as the club that they really want to play for," he said, noting that he had also seen loan signings who embraced Celtic wholeheartedly – citing Julian Araujo’s devotion last season as a prime example. "Loans are sometimes a bit of a concern, but it depends on the player." Switching focus to Rangers, McInnes confessed he let out "a huge sigh of relief" when the transfer window finally closed on Thursday evening. The Scottish side have been busy as well, adding 22‑year‑old Venezuelan striker Kevin Kelsy from Portland Timbers on a four‑year deal (with an optional fifth year) reportedly worth around £9.5 million, and securing a season‑long loan for Algerian winger Badredine Bouanani from Stuttgart.
Both newcomers are expected to feature in the upcoming Scottish Premiership clash with Motherwell. "We all took a huge sigh of relief when the window closed yesterday and we get on with the job in hand," McInnes said, adding that left‑back Tuur Rommens is set to resume full training after recovering from a groin strain, ahead of the two forthcoming games against Celtic.
"It feels like I've been to war this window, to be honest. It feels like the longest window I've ever known. There's always so much to consider.
At Rangers, I don't want to work with players who just see what's next and what's next after this, always maybe eagerly eyeing up other opportunities. I want people who want to be here, who want to hang about the club for a period of time and want to be successful here. This club can provide so much opportunity and so many good moments for a player, manager and the like.
I just want us to commit to being here and put all our focus on the club. The club is deserving of that.
The players are deserving of each other, to get that tightness and closeness." He praised the recent atmosphere in the Rangers dressing room, describing it as "the kind of football dressing room you expect – humour, togetherness and a work ethic that matches my own standards." He believes that such unity is crucial when the team faces adversity or disappointing results. "It actually feels like a football dressing room. The humour, the togetherness and how we work has felt far more like what I would expect my dressing rooms to look like and behave like.
That's important when you come through adversity and stinging results. Equally, we've bounced back really well in two tough away games (wins at Falkirk and Aberdeen)." McInnes highlighted that the spirit and camaraderie within the squad are essential for navigating difficult periods, especially at a club with a very young dressing room.
"We are a very young dressing room. That is exciting and there is a lot of potential, but there are also lots of learnings for these young boys. It's our job to help them fulfil that potential in a Rangers shirt, day in and day out. I just want the players not to waste their minutes or opportunities.
Whether they're picked or training, don't see any day as a lazy day. We're not going to accept bad practice here.
Every day has to be important. You train with motivation, professionally, and as if you're trying to get into the team on a Saturday." In summary, both managers appear content with the way their squads have shaped up despite the constraints of a crowded transfer market and UEFA registration limits.
O'Neill is happy with the quality and depth Celtic now possess, even if some youngsters missed out on European squad spots, while McInnes feels the Rangers locker room finally reflects the culture he has long envisioned – a blend of ambition, loyalty and collective resolve that should serve both clubs well as the season progresses.