Six new Celtic signings – “It wouldn’t surprise me in the slightest,” David Friel | OneFootball

Sports journalists Rodger Hannah and David Friel have been discussing Brendan Rodgers’ potential transfer plans this summer window…

Brendan Rodgers. Celtic Champions 2025. Dundee United v Celtic, 26 April 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

The two men who write for the Scottish Sun took the opportunity to record a special ‘Go Ballistic edition’ in the immediate aftermath of Celtic’s title-winning victory over Dundee United last weekend.

Both men were at Celtic Park before the big celebrations kicked off late on Saturday afternoon into the evening, and were in conversation about what the future holds for this Celtic side.

The topic of the summer transfer window came up and with it, who they expected to leave and who would stay, as well as what or where the Irishman would spend his transfer kitty, with him admitting in the aftermath of the St Johnstone defeat a few weeks back that the squad and team needed more freshness moving ahead.

Celtic title celebrations. Celtic Champions 2025. Dundee United v Celtic, 26 April 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star).

Hannah started the debate by asking: “Will you see a different Celtic next season? Will there be changes to this title-winning team?”

“Will you see a different Celtic next season? Will there be changes to this title-winning team?”

David Friel is a Celtic man, formerly of The Celtic View and an author of an excellent Celtic book on Brendan’s first season at the club. He responded: “Yeah, I think there will be changes. Brendan Rodgers has alluded to it. The squad probably does need refreshed. The two guys you mentioned – Callum McGregor and James Forrest – they will certainly be there next season. But I do think that he (Rodgers) will just look to freshen certain areas of the team. I think certain players will move on. Kieran Tierney is obviously coming in. Another guy who knows the club inside-out.

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Jota of Celtic celebrates scoring the opening goal with team mate Reo Hatate during the SPL | Premier League match between Dundee United FC and Celtic FC at Tannadice Park on April 26, 2025 in Dundee, Scotland. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

“I wonder if Reo Hatate – has he done his time and move on?”

“I think in other areas, I wonder if Reo Hatate – has he done his time and move on? I wonder if other players in various areas (will move on). It looks like Greg Taylor is going to move on as well. And I do think Brendan Rodgers will look to add just a little bit of, I don’t mean spark, but just a bit of freshness into the squad.

“You know, I think when you’re on top, like Celtic are just now, you’re always looking at your next challenge. Always looking if you can take the next step and make your team a bit better. And also just recycle the squad. You know Celtic’s player-trading model – we’ve spoken endlessly about it – and there might be one or two in there that Celtic think they can go and get market value for.”

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Hannah then asked if certain key moments in matches when he has turned to his bench may impact his thoughts on this next coming transfer window. “There were a couple of moments, just in the run-in towards four-in-a-row when you looked at Celtic’s bench that I thought about that. One, when they lost here to theRangers in a derby, it was very thin. Brendan Rodgers turning and he could really only put on Adam Idah and Yang that day. And then that recent defeat at St Johnstone.

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Luis Palma in action for Olympiacos in action during the UEFA Europa League round of 16, 2nd leg soccer match between Olympiacos and Bodo/Glimt held at Stadium Georgios Karaiskakis in Piraeus, Greece, 13 March 2025. Photo One Inch Productions

“Luis Palma, Odin Thiago Holm, Gustaf Lagerbielke. I think if Celtic could get all of them off the wage-bill”

“Just Brendan’s quotes after the game about players in a comfort zone. And him wanting players that match his hunger almost. You see the guys going out the door. As you say, Greg Taylor, potentially Hatate. But also, there’s an awful lot of loan players who are headed by the likes of Luis Palma, Odin Thiago Holm, Gustaf Lagerbielke. I think if Celtic could get all of them off the wage-bill, Celtic could be looking at bringing in maybe half-a-dozen players again in the summer,” he added.

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Michel-Ange Balikwisha during the Belgian “Pro League” First Division football match between Royal Antwerp FC and Royal Union Saint-Gilloise at Bosuil-Stadium in Antwerp on March 17, 2024. (Photo by KRISTOF VAN ACCOM/BELGA/AFP via Getty Images)

“They’re obviously having a look at Michel Ange-Balikwisha”

Friel replied: “It wouldn’t surprise me in the slightest. You know the guys you mentioned, especially Lagerbielke and Palma, they will find new permanent homes somewhere. And Celtic will recoup a bit of money. Celtic could easily get five or six million pounds between those two. I think Celtic will look at central defence again. They’ll certainly bring in Kieran Tierney for left-back. I think they’ll look at the midfield area. It wouldn’t surprise me if they brought in two midfielders. If Palma goes, James Forrest’s there, Yang’s there, Kühn’s there, Jota’s there. But I do think with Daizen Maeda playing through the middle, they could look for one more winger. They’re obviously having a look at Michel Ange-Balikwisha.”

The Celtic Huddle. Celtic Champions 2025. Dundee United v Celtic, 26 April 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

That’s an interesting insight, especially from Friel, as the summer transfer window approaches.

Paul Gillespie

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